Pubdate: Thu, 26 Dec 2013
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Bill Cleverley

VICTORIA COUNCILLOR POISED TO CASH IN ON POT BONANZA

Former Victoria councillor Philippe Lucas is hoping to cash in on the 
increasing call for quality control in the lucrative cannabis industry.

"What we've got right now is a multibillion-dollar industry. In B. 
C., the estimate is $ 6 to $ 9 billion with virtually no quality 
control," said Lucas, a marijuana advocate.

Lucas' Victoria-based Compassionate Analytics has just launched two 
new products to test levels of tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC) and 
cannabidiol ( CBD) in cannabis.

THC is the active ingredient that provides the psycho- active effect 
( the high) from marijuana. While it was initially thought that CBD 
served simply to counter the effects of THC, recent research is 
showing that it has substantial medicinal qualities. CBD is being 
seen as promising in the treatment of conditions such as Crohn's 
disease, posttraumatic stress disorder and multiple sclerosis.

Lucas said the testing is particularly useful as CBD- rich cannabis 
would provide that substantive relief without the intoxication 
associated with high THC strains.

"The nice thing about CBD is it has a lot of the same therapeutic 
effects as THC - it's a good pain-reliever. It's an anti- 
inflammatory ... but it doesn't have the psychoactive properties of 
THC," he said.

Starting April 1, medicinal marijuana users who grow their own plants 
or designate someone to be their personal grower, or who now buy 
their cannabis through Ottawa's one approved supplier, will be 
restricted to buying their pot from a list of approved suppliers.

Lucas believes the tests being marketed by his company will fill a 
niche even as the landscape for production and use of medical marijuana changes.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom