Cannabis News Media Awareness Project
  Activists Complain About Government Pot Quality
Posted by CN Staff on May 15, 2002 at 07:09:05 PT
By Gregory Tejeda, United Press International 
Source: United Press International 

medical Activists who support the legalized use of marijuana for medical purposes say U.S. government-run farms are growing low-quality pot, thereby undermining research into its medicinal benefits.

"It's unconscionable that they would be giving this marijuana to patients," National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws coordinator Dale Gieringer told the San Jose Mercury News. "It's stale, low-potency ditch weed."

The newspaper noted that several observers were critical of the marijuana grown on farms in Mississippi run by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

They said the pot was full of sticks, stems and seeds, with stale leaves caused by repeated freezing and thawing during storage.

Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics editor Ethan Russo said patients participating in any other medical study would not be given such a stale product.

Officials overseeing a marijuana study in San Mateo County, Calif., say fewer than 10 subjects are participating, even though they had budgeted to accommodate up to 60.

Mike Nevin, the program's supervisor, said he does not want the perception to ruin the research.

"We've put too much effort into this, and we don't want to be playing games here," he said. "It needs to be a certain grade of substance, and unless it's stronger, they'll set us up for defeat."

Stanford University clinical professor Dennis Israelski said problems with the marijuana have gotten out via the Internet and from HIV support groups.

"We've been hurt by word on the streets," Israelski said. "But the word on the street might not reflect reality."

Steve Gust, a special assistant with the drug abuse institute, downplayed the quality issue, saying there's nothing wrong with the government-grown grass that is pre-rolled, frozen and sent from the Mississippi farms to sanctioned researchers across the U.S.

Gust said re-humidification of the plant "makes it kind of harsh," adding that "certain procedures are needed to make it smoke right."

Gust also said he thinks NORML and other marijuana legalization activists are looking for excuses should studies show that marijuana has little medicinal value.

"They can say the marijuana isn't of sufficient quality," he said.

Source: United Press International
Author: Gregory Tejeda, United Press International
Published May 15, 2002
Copyright: 2002 United Press International
Website: http://www.upi.com/
Contact: http://www.upi.com/about/contact.cfm

Related Articles & Web Sites:

CaNORML
http://www.canorml.org/

Cannabinoids in Pain Management
http://freedomtoexhale.com/drr.htm

Chronic Cannabis Use
http://freedomtoexhale.com/ccu.pdf

Picture of Debris - 3 NIDA Cannabis Cigarettes
http://freedomtoexhale.com/debris.jpg

San Mateo Pot-Study Sign-Up Low
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12836.shtml

DEA Approves UC San Diego Marijuana Study
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11450.shtml


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Comment #5 posted by Robbie on May 15, 2002 at 12:26:18 PT
idbsne1
I would wager that they are looking at the cannabis quantitatively. They want to know the exact (or close to) potency so they can gauge effectiveness. The government knows this...thats why they give them sh1tty weed, so the experiments will fail. I think, though I'm not sure, they'll be cut off if they go to the street to get cannabis. Probably a government condition for sanctioning, once again, an easy way to kill the research.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #4 posted by idbsne1 on May 15, 2002 at 08:17:06 PT
on another note....
Couldn't the patients just use MMJ from clubs or the street?

I mean, without telling the doctors? If they have to titrate in the lab, they could bring their own secretly?

I don't know if they are testing quantitatively or just qualitatively.....I figure the latter....so it should be fine....

idbsne1

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #3 posted by idbsne1 on May 15, 2002 at 08:12:25 PT
Hey Gust......
BEFORE the studies show that MJ has medicinal value, here is something for ya....

THE MARIJUANA IS OF INSUFFICIENT QUALITY!!!!!

Tell you what....give me YOUR job....then you can tell me the quality is fine.

idiot.

idbsne1

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #2 posted by masscrusader on May 15, 2002 at 07:35:29 PT
Richard Kroft Canadian Senator
This guy is in his 60's and he actually got the government to appent another 320K for the special commitee of senators of illegal drugs report budget. That is a four fold increase from last year. It has already happened. The money is in play now

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by BGreen on May 15, 2002 at 07:29:18 PT
Expert Schmexpert
"Steve Gust, a special assistant with the drug abuse institute, downplayed the quality issue, saying there's nothing wrong with the government-grown grass that is pre-rolled, frozen and sent from the Mississippi farms to sanctioned researchers across the U.S."

"Gust said re-humidification of the plant "makes it kind of harsh," adding that "certain procedures are needed to make it smoke right.""

Those who don't partake of cannabis shouldn't act like they know everything about the plant.

Gust needs to go get himself a Box O' Wine or bottle of MD 20/20 and teach us how to be a wine connoisseur.

[ Post Comment ]


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