Greenleaf Medicinals, a medical marijuana supplier in British Columbia, voluntarily recalled a batch of marijuana (Purple Kush, Batch PK-10-20-13) for unclear reasons. The recall was reportedly due to the company's questionable production practices identified by Health Canada, but details as to what the issues are were not disclosed.
Greenleaf Medicinals instructs its clients to immediately discontinue use of marijuana from the said batch as the company works with other licensed producers to supply its affected clients. The company is regularly inspected and must meet control, security and reporting requirements, subject to strict compliance and enforcement measures just like other controlled substance suppliers.
"It is not a danger to those people who use the product, but they are being asked to discontinue use," Health Canada spokesperson Erika-Kirsten Easton said. Greenleaf Medicinals issued the recall on April 18, two days before the annual 4-20 celebration where thousands of people use weed to show support for the decriminalization and controlled use of marijuana. Thousands of people gathered on April 20 at the Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto and Parliament Hill in Ottawa for rallies and events supporting the control of marijuana.
There are various speculations why the recall happened. People could say that the recall only shows that Health Canada's system works effectively but without specified reasons and information about the recall, it could be a minor or a serious issue that should nevertheless be dealt with.
Medical marijuana is reportedly a viable pain reliever to multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers and the journal Neurology recently outlined the positive response of the disease to the substance. MS is characterized by unstable balance, rigid muscles, loss of vision and slurred speech. MS patients report that medical marijuana pills and sprays helped ease these symptoms, but adverse side effects also affected a small amount of MS sufferers. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, seizures, patchy memory loss and depression.
"We're at a place where we need to continue to understand and better appreciate the benefits of what we know and don't know about [alternative medicine]," Timothy Coatzee of the National MS Society said. "I view it as integrated care. It's important we continue to keep our options open so people with MS can live their best lives."
The use of medicinal marijuana is increasing in Canada, but it is not an approved drug and its possession and use still remains illegal unless with a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner.
