Researchers found that cannabis from coffee shops may be
contaminated by bacteries and fungi, that may harm seriously ill
patients. The micro-organisms found on the samples included
Coli-bacteria and several Aspergillus species. Coli-bacteria are
faecal bacteria, that may have found their way into the cannabis
by somebody who did not wash his hands. "This may go well in
healthy people, but is a hazard to people who use this as a
medicine," lead researcher Dr. Rob Verpoorte said. No micro-
organisms were found on the medicinal cannabis distributed to
pharmacies by the OMC.

There were only small price differences between cannabis from
pharmacies, patients' foundations and coffee shops, based on
the amount of THC in the cannabis. The average price in coffee
shops was between 6 and 7 euros per gram. The cannabis in
pharmacies was 10 to 40 per cent more expensive, but coffee
shops often sold more then 5 per cent too little. One coffee shop
gave 7.5 gram in stead of the 10 grams that were ordered and
paid.

(Source: Newsletter of the Office of Medicinal Cannabis)

IACM-Bulletin of 20 March 2005