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High priced government-sponsored herb = low grade poor medicine
By Hempology | April 19, 2008
Tue, 15 Apr 2008
Source: Evening News, The (CN NS)
LEARNING TO GROW THE RIGHT STUFF
If certain Canadians operating outside the law can grow grade-A quality marijuana in spare rooms, one would think a company receiving millions of dollars in funding could achieve the same result.
The federal government once again has a tender out for companies interested in growing and distributing medical grade pot. So far, since marijuana has been made available to a limited number of people for health reasons, the government has had a spotty record on getting the job done.
The current firm, Prairie Plant Systems Inc., in Flin Flon, Man., has been the butt of criticism from users who say the product is inferior.
People have also complained about the high price of the government-sponsored herb. The alternative for these users has been to get it from a licensed grower.
That option will eventually disappear, apparently, as Health Canada has said it plans to eventually end its licensing of home-grown weed. Thus, users at that point would be forced to buy – if they want to stay legal – from the Ottawa-sanctioned grower.
Since granting the program to the Flin Flon company in 2000, Health Canada has provided funding of $10 million. Surely that kind of backing should result in a primo product. This can’t be rocket science or we wouldn’t see such a proliferation of illegal substance grown.
The government appears to be half-hearted in this effort, perhaps because use of therapeutic marijuana remains controversial to some.
But with more trials and research, that could well change. The U.S. federal government remains leery of pot as a health component, but other more liberal countries are bound to catch on, as benefits are proven.
Canada should put more thought and effort into this. Instead of the dubious distinction of being a leader in growing the illicit kind, it could establish itself as the authority on producing the legally distributed stuff.
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