OTTAWA'S MARIJUANA MAVEN PUTS BRAKES ON DISTRIBUTION PROPOSAL: DOCUMENTS

(CP) - The chief of Ottawa's medical marijuana program has been putting the
brakes on a Health Canada proposal that would give needy patients direct
access to government dope.

A newly released document shows that Cindy Cripps-Prawak has been fighting a
proposed policy shift that would deliver government-certified marijuana to
chronically ill Canadians. Currently, Health Canada will provide its
standardized marijuana only to accredited researchers, who would then
dispense it to select patients in clinical trials.

Patients not enrolled in such trials can seek federal authorization to
possess marijuana to alleviate symptoms - but they have to get the stuff on
their own from the street. They can also grow it from seeds or have someone
else do it for them.

Street dope, which can vary wildly in quality, is not legal though
authorized patients can legally smoke it.

A document released under the Access to Information Act shows that Health
Canada policymakers are looking to end that conundrum through a major policy
shift that would provide government marijuana directly to approved patients.

The draft policy, entitled Medical Marijuana - Supply and Distribution and
dated May 31 last year, would "provide access to (research grade) marijuana
for medical purposes for patients unable to enroll in clinical trials," says
the document.

"It will not be possible for all patients to enroll in a controlled or open
label clinical trial. In these instances, it will be necessary to consider
providing patients with access to the federal supply of dried marijuana for
medical purposes. . . ."

Such a shift, which would be an about-face for Health Minister Anne
McLellan, could help resolve a recent series of court decisions that have
called into question the validity of Canada's marijuana laws.

But the move is being opposed by the very civil servant who would be in
charge of implementing it.

In marginal notes to the draft policy statement, Cripps-Prawak says the
shift would create a bad precedent by undermining Canada's drug-approval
process, which requires clinical proof before drugs can be made available to
the public.

"This option does not support Health Canada responsibility with respect to
the safety and well-being of Canadians," she wrote on June 5.

Cripps-Prawak also warns that Health Canada would be in a conflict of
interest since it would be both regulator and distributor of a drug, calling
the proposal a "non-credible approach."

"The recommendation should be to not deviate from the current policy of
directing the product to research purposes only," she wrote.

In an interview, Cripps-Prawak said "the document is still a draft and work
continues." But she added that her concerns about direct distribution
remain.

"Where on first blush something might be a very good idea, looking at the
ramifications and implications, sometimes you have to sit back a little bit
and give it a little more thought," she said from Ottawa.

Cripps-Prawak, director of the Office of Cannabis Medical Access since April
2001, also dismissed suggestions the department had previously indicated it
would provide dope outside clinical trials.

"From my perspective, we never shifted gears. . . . Maybe it was a problem
with language."

Health Canada is paying Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon $5.7 million over
five years to grow high-grade marijuana in an abandoned mine section in Flin
Flon, Man.

The first crop of 74 kilograms, delivered in December 2001, contained 185
different varieties because the company was forced to rely on seeds from
police seizures across the country. The original plan to obtain standardized
seeds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Md., fell
through.

Last month, Prairie Plant Systems delivered a second crop of 200 kilograms
based on the two best strains from the first crop. The crop's level of THC,
the main active ingredient in marijuana, is higher than 10 per cent though
tests are still being conducted.

This second standardized and certified crop will be used to supply clinical
trials with a reliable product.

Some facts and figures about government-certified marijuana being grown in
Flin Flon, Man.:

Purpose - Health Canada wants standardized supply of marijuana for
accredited researchers to determine whether the substance has health
benefits.

Contract - In December 2000, Prairie Plant Systems of Saskatoon awarded a
five-year, $5.75-million contract to grow marijuana for Health Canada in an
abandoned mine section in Flin Flon, Man.

Source - Prairie Plant Systems originally to obtain quality seeds from the
National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Md. Delays forced them instead
to use more than 10,000 seeds seized by various police forces across the
country. Only a third produced plants.

First crop - First crop of 74 kilograms delivered December 2001 had 185
varieties, with broad range of quality. Two best strains - officially known
as MS-17/338 and MS-9/934 - later picked for their hardiness and potency. A
third strong strain held in reserve.

Second crop - Second crop of 200 kilograms delivered in December 2002, based
on planted cuttings from the two best strains to ensure genetic consistency.

Tests - Early results suggest a 10 per cent or higher level of THC, the most
active ingredient of marijuana, in the second crop. Also being tested for
microbes and for zinc-copper content. May be months before distribution to
researchers.

Processing and storage - Dried crop stored at Flin Flon to be bagged and
labelled as necessary. No plans at present to produce rolled marijuana
cigarettes.

Current trials - The Community Research Initiative of Toronto is testing the
effect of marijuana on the appetites of AIDS patients. A group at McGill
University in Montreal is testing the effects of smoked marijuana on
neuropathic pain. Health Canada provides funding but not the marijuana,
which currently comes from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.