Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 Source: British Medical Journal, The (UK) Copyright: 2003 The BMJ Contact: http://www.bmj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/60 Author: David Spurgeon Note: LTEs regarding published articles should be submitted via the website's 'rapid response' facility (box at top right of the article in question) or may be emailed to contact address above but must include a subheading to article author. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) CANADIAN DOCTORS QUESTION MARIJUANA FOR MEDICINAL USE Quebec - Two leading medical bodies in Canada have expressed grave concern over the federal government's plan to have doctors dispense marijuana to patients for medicinal use. The Canadian Medical Association (the national body representing Canadian physicians) and the Canadian Medical Protective Association, which protects doctors against litigation, have seriously questioned the proposal, which was announced on 9 July. The Canadian Medical Association has advised doctors not to participate in the programme, and some doctors say it isn't workable. At the same time, the federal government, forced by an Ontario provincial court ruling to come up with a dispensing plan, is itself unhappy with what it has produced. It calls the plan an "interim" policy that could be suspended at any time. Health minister Anne McLellan says the government is not convinced of the medicinal benefits of marijuana and will support clinical trials starting this autumn. The federal government issued regulations three years ago approving medicinal use of marijuana, but these were ruled unconstitutional and invalid last January by an Ontario court because they failed to resolve issues relating to the source and supply of the drug. The provincial court gave the federal government six months to resolve these issues. The interim policy was the answer to that demand. The federal government plans to appeal the Ontario court's decision by the end of July. An internet statement on 11 July from the Canadian Medical Association says the federal government's interim policy "does nothing to address patient safety issues." "Since the government has not made the case for the safety of the medical use of marijuana, the CMA [Canadian Medical Association] strongly recommends that the physicians of Canada not participate in dispensing marijuana under existing regulations, and warns that those who do, do so at their professional and legal peril," it says. Dr Gordon Arbass, a Toronto physician who treats patients with AIDS, was quoted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as saying that the federal health department did not consult physicians before deciding to give them the responsibility of dispensing the drug. "For the majority if physicians, they are going to stay clear from this because they don't want to have any difficulty in terms of theft, burglary, vandalism," he said. Under the interim policy, the 582 Canadian patients who have met requirements of the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations will be allowed to buy 30 marijuana seeds for $C20 (UKP8.90; $14.60; 12.90) and grow them for medical purposes. They will also be able to buy a gram of dried marijuana for $C5 ($C140 for an ounce). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say black market marijuana sells for $C300 to $C750 an ounce. Physicians' approval is needed for people to meet the medical access requirements. The seeds and marijuana will be provided by a company in Manitoba under contract with the federal health department to produce the substance for clinical trials. It has a consistent active ingredient of 10% tetrahydrocannabinol and will be sent to physicians who have signed a patient's application form. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom