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Canadian Tokers Complain: Gov Dope Bunk
Some of the first patients to smoke Health Canadaâs government-approved marijuana say itâs "disgusting" and want their money back. "Itâs totally unsuitable for human consumption," said Jim Wakeford, 58, an AIDS patient in Gibsons, B.C. "It gave me a slight buzziness for about three to five minutes, and that was it. I got no other effect from it." Barrie Dalley, a 52-year-old Toronto man who uses marijuana to combat the nausea associated with AIDS, said the Health Canada dope actually made him sick to his stomach. "I threw up," Dalley said Monday. "It made me nauseous because I had to use so much of it. It was so weak in potency that I really threw up." "Bogus dope, man. I kept toking and toking and still no high." Both men are returning their 30-gram bags, and Dalley is demanding his money back - $150 plus taxes. Wakeford is returning his unpaid bill for two of the bags with a letter of complaint. A third AIDS patient says heâs also unhappy with the product, which is supposed to contain 10.2 per cent THC, the main active ingredient. All three are among 10 patients who have registered with Health Canada to buy dope directly from the government to alleviate their medical symptoms. The department was compelled to begin direct distribution in July, following an Ontario court order this year that said needy patients should not be forced to get their cannabis on the streets or from authorized growers, who themselves obtain seeds or cuttings illegally. "We want cannabis because weâre sick!" "OK, hereâs your medicial marijuana." "Hey, this stuff is bogus! Weâre not getting high, er, healthy." The marijuana is being grown for Health Canada deep underground in a vacant mine section in Flin Flon, Man., by Prairie Plant Systems on a $5.75-million contract. OK, thereâs the problem. Everyone knows the best dope is grown in a closet, er, or so Iâve been told. The department originally intended that the product go first to accredited researchers to demonstrate whether or not cannabis is medically effective. Theyâre still testing, could take a while. Laboratory tests indicate the Health Canada product has only about three per cent THC - not the 10.2 per cent advertised - and contains contaminants such as lead and arsenic, said spokesman Philippe Lucas of Victoria. Typical government issue "This particular product wouldnât hold a candle to street level cannabis," he said in an interview. Canât beat the free market. Lucas, who smokes marijuana to cope with his hepatitis C infection, said the lab results also showed that the cannabis provided at a Victoria compassion club for patients registers at more than 12 per cent and is freer from contaminants. He said the government cannabis was too finely ground up with stems and leaves, calling it "shwag" or "bunk," street terminology for the lowest grade of marijuana. Posted by: Steve 2003-09-16 |
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