Pubdate: Sat, 26 Apr 2003
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2003, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Page: A16
Author: BRIAN LAGHI

MEDICAL POT FIRM MULLS LEGAL ACTION OVER DELAYS

OTTAWA -- The company hired to grow marijuana for medical use is 
threatening legal action against Ottawa, as the process to supply the drug 
to sick Canadians bogs down.

In a confidential letter to Health Minister Anne McLellan, Prairie Plant 
Systems Inc. president Brent Zettl says the government has negatively 
affected the company's ability to raise capital and to develop other lines 
of its business's enterprises.

"This is also not to mention the demoralizing impact it has had on the 
staff that have worked diligently on this project," Mr. Zettl wrote in his 
letter.

The federal government contracted with Prairie Plant Systems to grow 
marijuana for people in Canada who have the right to consume the drug for 
pain relief and other symptoms of chronic disease.

However, the plan has run into several delays since the cabinet shuffle one 
year ago in which Ms. McLellan took over the Health Department from Allan Rock.

A court ruling requires the federal government to make the drug available 
by July.

In his letter, Mr. Zettl asks the minister for a response to inaccuracies 
Mr. Zettl believes were contained in a series of newspaper articles.

"Without a response (which was the case for previous requests), I will have 
no choice but to consider other measures to protect the Company's 
reputation," says the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by The 
Globe and Mail. "This is particularly important to us in light of the fact 
that Health Canada has prohibited the Company speaking publicly on the 
project."

In his letter, Mr. Zettl disputes suggestions that a crop being grown by 
his company at an abandoned Flin Flon mine is too potent to use.

The cannabis contains 20 to 25 per cent THC, the active ingredient of 
marijuana that is said to ameliorate pain and other symptoms.

Mr. Zettl says in his letter that Ottawa stipulated in its contract that 
the pot have a THC content of five per cent or more, with no upper limit.

He adds that his company has shown it can produce a cannabis product with a 
THC content of 0.24 per cent to 25 per cent.

The company has produced greater yields of the crop than the federal 
government says it is delivering, he wrote.

"It is a fact that more than enough material was produced . . . to satisfy 
all the planned clinical trials," he says. "This material is packaged and 
ready to ship, pending your department's final approval."

Farah Mohamed, a spokesperson for Ms. McLellan, said yesterday that the 
department is not questioning the quality of the product but insists that 
it be safe and of high quality before clinical trials can begin.

However, Toronto lawyer Alan Young said Ottawa has consistently made 
efforts to discredit the project since Ms. McLellan took the job.

"I think it's clear that the government is trying to discredit its own 
program," said Mr. Young, who is involved in court efforts to loosen 
restrictions on the drug. 
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart