Patient criticizes quality of medicinal cannabis flowers supplied by Tikun Olam, company refutes allegations

Kelly Atzoutzoulas obtained a prescription from a Greek doctor for two units of Tikun Olam cannabis flowers, weighing 10 grams each, for which she paid 331.82 euros. However, the experience left her deeply dissatisfied, to the point that she filed a formal complaint with Tikun Olam and made her displeasure public through a post on LinkedIn. In a statement to CannaReporter®, Tikun Olam stated that “the suggestion that the product was grown outdoors is factually incorrect” and that “the appearance of the retained samples and dried flowers shown in the video [the patient] provided is typical of the Midnight strain”. 

Kelly Atzoutzoulas, 49, is a sales director for TetraHip, a cannabis company based in North Macedonia, and recently turned to medical cannabis in Greece to treat symptoms associated with pain and menopause. According to Kelly, the quality of the flowers she received was “disgraceful.” She described the product as dry, full of stems, with no smell, no taste, no visible crystals, and minimal to no effects.

Faced with her disappointed expectations, the patient sent a complaint to Tikun Olam about two weeks ago, to which she claims she had not received any response until yesterday, when she made her dissatisfaction public in a post on LinkedIn. According to Kelly's post, “Tikun Olam is the only company selling to the Greek market at the moment and charges the highest prices in Europe.”

The complaint that Kelly Atzoutzoulas sent to Tikun Olam was as follows:

“I have a prescription for medical cannabis. Your Midnight strain is disappointing in terms of quality and effects. It appears to be grown outdoors, which is the cheapest method of cultivation, but you charge the highest prices in Europe, from the grower to the pharmacy. And the final price is too high for the quality you offer. Your prices reflect AAA+ for indoor environments, but your flowers look moldy. The cannabis has no taste, no smell, no crystals and definitely does NOT have the effects of a SATIVA strain. The Midnight strain, in my opinion, is an indica-dominant strain, used ONLY for mild pain and anxiety. It does NOT improve mood at all, as you claim. My rating for you is a 2 out of 5 at best. You may be the only company now, but others will join and when that happens, no one will choose your product. There are many better options (even on the black market). The goal of medical cannabis is to be pure medicine and to be above the black market, but yours is far behind. I have attached 1 photo and 2 videos. One is a photograph of the batch number and expiration date. The other 2 are videos of your Midnight strain. Very disappointing. Good luck.”

Speaking to CannaReporter®, Kelly said the flowers she purchased did not alleviate her symptoms and also criticized the way the strain was labeled. “The product prescribed was ‘Midnight,’ which is classified as a sativa strain, but classifying it as a sativa is incorrect. It lacks the mental high and energizing effects typical of sativas,” she said.

The patient contacted Tikun Olam by email, but according to her, she did not receive any response until yesterday, when CannaReporter® sent a request for clarification to the company.

Tikun Olam says that the Midnight variety is exactly as it appears and that “visible trichome density is not a valid indicator of pharmaceutical quality.”

Vasia Dermati, Marketing Director at Tikun Olam, sent an email in response to CannaReporter®’s request for clarification, which we have transcribed in full below:

“Regarding your message on LinkedIn, we have already addressed the patient’s inquiry in accordance with our internal procedures. Additionally, for your reference, please find below our formal response to the concerns raised:

1. Cultivation and Production Methodology
Midnight is cultivated in a GACP-compliant, closed-environment greenhouse facility designed to meet strict pharmaceutical-grade standards. The facility operates under full quality management systems, with validated processes for cultivation, drying, curing, trimming, and packaging. All production is conducted in accordance with EU-GMP and GACP guidelines, and includes comprehensive monitoring of environmental conditions, contamination risks, and traceability.

It is important to note that outdoor cultivation is not compatible with GMP standards, as it lacks the necessary controls over potential contaminants, variability, and stability. The suggestion that the product was outdoor-grown is factually incorrect.

2. Strain Classification and Pharmacological Profile
All medical cannabis products are, by legal and botanical classification, labeled as Cannabis Sativa L., irrespective of their genetic heritage (Indica, Sativa, or hybrid). Midnight is considered a balanced strain where CBD and THC coexist in comparable portions. It is intended for therapeutic use in chronic pain treatment, spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis, appetite stimulation and treatment of nausea and vomiting in patients under chemotherapy, HIV or Hepatitis C therapy. These indications are clearly described in the Patient Information Leaflet.

The product is not marketed as a pure "Sativa" strain, and no psychoactive effect claims (e.g., mood elevation or stimulation) are made in any official or regulatory-facing communications. Reported effects may vary significantly between patients due to interindividual pharmacodynamic responses to cannabinoids and terpenes.

3. Visual Characteristics and Trichome Development
Midnight is based on a landrace-dominant genetic line, and its morphology reflects the natural expression of such cultivars. As a balanced chemotype, it produces lower concentrations of resinous trichomes than high-THC cultivars bred for recreational purposes.

Visible trichome density is not a valid indicator of pharmaceutical quality. Instead, our quality control program relies on validated analytical testing, including:

• Determination of cannabinoid content (CBDA/CBD, THCA/THC, CBGA/CBG and more)
• Microbial tests (TAMC, TYMC, pathogens)
• Heavy metal screening
• Mycotoxin screening
• Pesticide residue monitoring
• Water activity and humidity control

Only batches that meet all specifications are released to the market.

4. Pricing considerations

The price of all finished medicinal cannabis products is determined by the Ministry of Health using the same methodology as for all other pharmaceutical products, based on the applicable legislative framework.

5. Complaints review and batch evaluation
We have received the media files and batch details referenced in the complaint and an investigation has been conducted based on our internal procedure. The investigation includes batch record review and retain sample testing of the complaint batch. No deviations have been identified. The appearance of retain samples and of dry flower depicted in the video you have provided, is typical for the Midnight strain.

6. Product Communication and Claims
We would like to emphasize that all product-related communications, including packaging and physician/patient-facing materials, are carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. No claims are made regarding subjective effects such as stimulation, mood alteration, or recreational use. We understand that individual experiences may vary; however, any such impressions are not aligned with the product’s authorized therapeutic use and may stem from personal interpretation rather than official product information.

We remain committed to maintaining transparency, scientific rigor and patient safety in the medical cannabis landscape in Greece and Europe,” concludes the email from Tikun Olam.

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Laura Ramos

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With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 2018st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “What does Lisbon say?” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura made the documentary “Pacientes” in XNUMX and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

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