ONE IN 3 LEGAL USERS NIX GOV'T POT

OTTAWA -- Nearly a third of the patients who got marijuana through
Health Canada's medical access program have returned the product, says
an activist who sees that as proof that federal pot isn't worth
smoking. "High school students in a cupboard could grow a product that
is better and safer than what we're getting," said Philippe Lucas, who
obtained the figures through the federal access to information law.

"I think it's much weaker than the government claims. I'd really
suggest their testing is off."

Lucas, director of Canadians for Safe Access, said tests commissioned
by his pro-pot lobby group have found the federal product contains
only 5.1% THC rather than the 10.2% claimed by Health Canada. It
doesn't even look appealing, he added.

"Visibly, it's horrible. There's visible stock and stem and it's
ground far too fine to actually roll so you're forced to use it in a
pipe and when you do it burns very black with dark, acrid ash.

"They know it's no good, and they send it out to people who aren't
just suffering from minor aches and pains but in some cases have AIDS
and cancer."

'Research Grade'

Health Canada spokeswoman Catherine Saunders said 29 out of 92
approved users either returned their pot or cancelled their orders,
but she did not know the reasons.

Saunders insisted that the marijuana is as potent as claimed.

"It's tested, it's research grade, it's fully characterized and it's
documented according to good manufacturing practices
guidelines."

The government marijuana is grown for the government by Prairie Plant
Systems of Saskatoon in an abandoned mine at Flin Flon.

Lucas said the marijuana is so widely reviled that Prairie Plant
Systems includes a return form with every order.