Pubdate: Wed, 13 Apr 2016
Source: Lake Country Calendar (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Black Press
Contact: http://www.lakecountrycalendar.com/contact_us/
Website: http://www.lakecountrycalendar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2229
Author: Kevin Parnell

TESTING MARIJUANA FOR ITS MEDICAL PROPERTIES

If you receive medicinal marijuana through a licensed producer in 
Canada, the product will have been tested for its chemical make-up 
and to identify the compounds that are present in the product.

But if you are purchasing product through a compassion club or a 
dispensary, the chemical make-up of the marijuana could be untested 
for quality.

According to Keystone Laboratories in Edmonton, it's this testing 
that is crucial for the use of medicinal marijuana as a way for 
people to know what's in the medicine they are taking and to ensure 
they are taking high quality medicine each and every time they use it.

"It's important for people to know what amounts of the active 
ingredient they have in their product," said Jodi McDonald, the 
founder and president of Keystone Labs, which tests medicinal 
marijuana for five commercial producers that are licensed to grow by 
Health Canada. "The analogy I like to use is any type of prescription 
your doctor prescribes you, you want to know what is in each pill you 
take. Health Canada requires the pharmaceutical industry to make sure 
each pill is safe. For licensed marijuana producers it's the legal 
requirement (to get tested). They must show the product meets the 
Health Canada requirements."

Keystone labs is working with Justin Pearson (see story) to test the 
samples of cannabis oil he sends them as part of a UBCO research 
project. Pearson says quality control in medicinal marijuana is 
something not to be taken lightly.

"There are many compelling examples of the effectiveness of cannabis 
oil in the treatment of various ailments, from cancer and MS to 
epilepsy," said Pearson. "But we also know that the success depends 
much on the cannabinoid profile, something that is not offered or 
required to be provided."

At Keystone, the lab says it is developing a test kit that could be 
used by individuals to test their marijuana product to find out 
exactly what is in it. If people found something that worked, they 
would know what ingredients are having an effect.

"Everything else in the modern medical world, you don't take things 
not knowing what the active ingredient is," said McDonald. "Testing 
is critical so they can know what they are taking."

For more information on testing of medicinal marijuana go to 
www.keystonelabs.ca or email  ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom