Lit_Match

Pot activists smoking mad

10-15-06|edmontonsun.com|Brookes Merritt

Pot activists are blaming the federal Tories for wasting potential research dollars by extending a contract with Canada's only legal grow-op, just weeks after slashing funding for medicinal marijuana studies.

"It looks like the feds are gearing up to force all medicinal pot users to buy through Prairie Plant Systems, whose product is downright poor," said Vancouver pot activist Phillipe Lucas.

Prairie Plant Systems is the Saskatoon-based company contracted by Health Canada to grow marijuana and other plants for medical research.

The company has been criticized by many medicinal pot users of providing weak marijuana that is hard to light and treats only a small spectrum of ailments.

Recently, the government extended its contract with the company. It has not disclosed the details, but activists claim it's worth $2.1 million over 15 months and was never tendered.

"The feds are phasing out private medicinal growing licences in 2007, yet they're giving money to Prairie Plant Systems to grow more pot. If you ask me it looks like they're getting into bed together," Lucas said.

"Unless that company demonstrates its ability to provide superior product and choice, people will continue to get their marijuana on the black market."

Prairie Plant Systems CEO Brent Zettl said allegations his product is too weak are "completely unfounded."

"They can't show a shred of clinical evidence to support that," he said, adding returns of his product have steadily declined since they first bid for the government job in 2001.

"Our patient list is increasing every month," he said.

His company currently supplies only one type of marijuana, a "general treatment that helps most clients."

Zettl admitted his weed won't be suitable for everyone. "We're currently researching - with our own money - other strains, and we know it's going to be important to have those available in the future."

Activists, including at least one MP, a Conservative senator, and the Canadian AIDS Society, continue to call for a performance audit on Health Canada's contract with Prairie Plant Systems.