Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Dean Beeby, Canadian Press Cited: Health Canada Office of Cannabis Medical Access http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/ocma/index.htm Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Health+Canada (Health Canada) FEDS SET TO ROLL OUT MARIJUANA MANUAL Health Canada is set to release a user's manual this week for a drug it has long opposed: Marijuana. The unprecedented move has been triggered by the courts, which compelled Health Canada this month to begin distributing government-certified marijuana to patients who take the substance to alleviate symptoms. The department must also release a manual on how to use its dope -- but a draft version of the document shows patients will get little advice about ingesting marijuana and lots of warnings against using it. "Administration by smoking is not recommended," says the 59-page document. "Marijuana can produce physical and psychological dependence and has the potential for abuse." The draft document, obtained under the Access to Information Act, warns that smoking marijuana can be more dangerous to the lungs than tobacco, but provides patients no practical alternatives. POT NOT FOR KIDS "We're not recommending, in fact, that marijuana be used," said Suzanne Desjardins, a Health Canada scientist who helped produce the manual. The manual advises against administering marijuana to children up to 16 years of age or to those 65 or older because "the potential for harm is likely to outweigh benefits." Nursing and pregnant women are also urged to steer clear of pot. Those who do choose to use are warned that "smoking should be gentle and should cease if the patient begins to feel disoriented or agitated .. naive smokers should take great care and be supervised." The document warns of potential panic attacks, psychosis and convulsions. "If disturbing psychiatric symptoms occur at the prescribed dosage, the patient should be closely observed in a quiet environment and supportive mea sures, including reassurance, should be used." Apart from brief sections citing studies on taking marijuana orally -- baked in a chocolate cookie, for example -- or rectally as a suppository, the manual offers no techniques to avoid smoking. The government-certified marijuana will cost $5 a gram, much less than on the street. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake