Pubdate: Sat, 24 Sep 2016
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Grant Robertson
Page: A4

HEALTH CANADA SAW CANNABIS LAB REPORTS

Health Canada has confirmed it reviewed lab reports warning that
dangerous chemicals not approved for any human use were found in
cannabis sold at dispensaries in Vancouver, but took no action.

Health Minster Jane Philpott issued a statement late Friday
acknowledging that her staff had discussed the lab results with
Tilray, a licensed producer of medical marijuana based in Nanaimo,
B.C., that sent the warning to Health Canada. Dr. Philpott's statement
comes a day after the Health Minister was unclear about whether she
had seen the lab results, telling The Globe and Mail, "I'm not sure
what document you are referring to."

But in her statement on Friday, Dr. Philpott provided details of a
meeting between her chief of staff, Genevieve Hinse, and executives of
the medical marijuana company, in which the documents were discussed.

"Tilray expressed concerns about illegal dispensaries and shared the
results of lab work suggesting contamination of cannabis," the
minister said. "I was not present at the meeting, but I am informed
that as the meeting concluded, the CEO provided a photocopy of six
pages of lab results to my staff. I have confirmed that a copy was
also provided to Health Canada employees."

Kerry Jang, a Vancouver city councillor, upbraided the federal
government on Thursday for sitting on the documents and not warning
the city about the problem. Dr. Jang, a psychiatrist who is a point
person on marijuana issues for city council, called Health Canada's
actions irresponsible.

Health Canada knew of a problem "and has chosen to go silent," Dr.
Jang said. "That is not responsible. This is people's health here."

The documents, which The Globe and Mail obtained through the Access to
Information Act, show that tests conducted at a Health
Canada-accredited lab last September found harmful pesticides and
fungicides such as carbamate and dodomorph in 13 of 22 cannabis
samples from about a dozen Vancouver dispensaries. Carbamate is not
approved for cannabis, while dodomorph is not suitable for human
consumption. The names of the dispensaries are redacted from the documents.

The lab results were provided to Eric Costen, who headed Health
Canada's office of medical cannabis, last October, and to Ms. Hinse in
January. When asked early this week what the department did with the
information about a potential public health risk, Health Canada would
not provide details. A spokeswoman said the department considers
cannabis dispensaries, which have proliferated across Canada this year
as the government prepares to legalize the drug, to be illegal - and
therefore beyond its responsibility.

Late on Thursday, the department issued a statement to The Globe
acknowledging that it reviewed the test results and chose not to act.

"Departmental officials did receive information on testing of products
that were allegedly procured from several dispensaries in Vancouver,"
the statement said. "This information was reviewed carefully by Health
Canada and nothing in it necessitated a change to Health Canada's
long-standing public position that storefronts selling marijuana, such
as dispensaries, are illegal and their products may be unsafe."

Tilray spokesman Zack Hutson said the company is disappointed in the
government's response to the test results, particularly because
dispensaries bill the product as medicine.

"No one has a right to sell contaminated products to sick people
without consequences. So when we became aware of test results
documenting the presence of dangerous pesticides not approved for
humans in medical products, we felt it was important to share those
results in good faith with the minister and other officials at Health
Canada out of concern for public health," Mr. Hutson said.

"We are disappointed and concerned that nearly a year after sharing
these results, patients continue to be at risk. If dispensaries are
going to be permitted to continue to operate, then they should be held
to the same standards as licensed producers."

Hundreds of dispensaries across Canada are doing a brisk business,
with some making tens of thousands of dollars a day in profit. Ottawa
has left the industry to local governments to police.

In her statement, the Health Minister called the results of the
Vancouver tests "unsurprising" since the government has long
considered storefront dispensaries to be selling unregulated and
untested products.

Dr. Jang said the government must do more to protect the public, and
should have told Vancouver about the problem. "Whether it's illegal or
not right now is not the question," he said. "We need to see some
action from the federal minister. Not this, 'It's illegal and I am
hiding.' It's just inappropriate."

- - With a report from Ian Bailey in Vancouver
- ---
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