USERS BASH GOV'T POT

Seed Quality, Grower's Know-How to Blame?

Complaints from patients about the second batch of
government-certified marijuana to come out of Flin Flon has prompted
Winnipeg pot advocates to blame poor quality seeds and inexperienced
growers. Health Canada made changes in its grow operation after
authorized medicinal marijuana users grumbled about the quality and
potency of the initial harvest last summer.

Yet the second batch is also receiving bad reviews.

'Best Growers'

Chris Dalman, a self-professed "reverend" of the Church of the
Universe which uses marijuana as a sacrament, said the government
should have contracted a grower with more experience.

Ottawa's refusal to employ growers with criminal records sets them
back, the pot advocate believes.

"The government is missing out on the best growers in North America,"
said Dalman, who figures it takes 10-15 years to become a decent cultivator.

Chris Buors, a Winnipeg member of the Marijuana Party of Canada, has a
different take on the government grass.

Experts hired by the government would have the know-how to produce
good pot, he believes.

"But their hearts are not in it," Buors said. "They are still trying
to demonize it. It's extremely difficult to demonize cannabis use when
you're producing the strongest stuff and giving it to sick people."

The government erred by not ensuring a good quality seed to start
from, Buors said.

"Just like prize-winning tomatoes need a good seed to stock from so
does cannabis," Buors said.

Authorized users can get their pot from Flin Flon's Prairie Plant
Systems, grow it themselves or have someone else grow it for them.

There are 12 authorized users in Manitoba.

Health Canada has removed the leaves and twigs from the grind of their
second batch and increased the level of THC -- the primary active
ingredient -- from 10% to 12%, give or take 1.5%.

"This is a good first step in improving the product," said Health
Canada spokeswoman Catherine Saunders.

"We continue to carry out tests to see if further changes are in
order."

Those changes involve the moisture content and the fineness of the
grind.

"Informally, I've been told ... that the feedback (on the second
batch) has been positive overall," Saunders said.

Yet some patients have dismissed Health Canada's claims that the
latest harvest is stronger and better quality smoke.

"It's not good," said Ontario resident Marco Renda. "I took two puffs
and I put it out."

"It had a chemical taste to it. It didn't taste right to me and it
didn't burn properly. It had no effect."

Criticism of Health Canada marijuana is based on "personal perception
and nothing inherent in the product itself," Saunders said.