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.