Pubdate: Wed, 14 Sep 2005
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Dean Beeby, Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

DRUGSTORES MAY SELL MARIJUANA

OTTAWA - Health Canada's long-delayed plan to sell government-certified 
marijuana in drugstores appears to be back on track for early next year.

The pilot project would stock medicinal pot in some pharmacies for use by 
authorized patients, making Canada only the second country after The 
Netherlands to allow easier access through drugstores.

Currently, 237 patients can get Health Canada's medical marijuana through 
Prairie Plant Systems Inc., which grows the weed in Flin Flon, Man., under 
a $5.75-million contract with the federal government. Thirty-gram bags of 
dried buds, costing $150 each, are couriered directly to patients or their 
physicians.

But since early 2003, when senior officials visited The Netherlands to 
investigate that country's marijuana distribution program, Health Canada 
has looked for a way to insert a pharmacist between the manufacturer and 
the patient.

The department is scouting out a handful of urban and rural pharmacies to 
begin the pilot project by the first quarter of 2006, said spokesman 
Christopher Williams.

Health Canada had initially planned a project for last year but regulations 
authorizing pharmacy distribution only came into effect on June 7 after a 
long period of consultation.

"Ideally, we'd like to run it in more than one province," Williams said in 
an interview. "Once we recruit the pharmacists, we'll make sure (they) 
receive specialized training in dispensing the marijuana for medical purposes."

Currently, 943 people are authorized to possess marijuana for medical 
conditions ranging from AIDS to multiple sclerosis, once a doctor has 
indicated that traditional remedies are ineffective.

Of these, 695 have permission to grow the plant themselves, while Health 
Canada has authorized 77 growers to produce it for other patients.

The first pharmacies to stock the product are likely to be in British 
Columbia, said Robin O'Brien, a Vancouver pharmacist who has been asked by 
Health Canada to participate as a consultant.

It would mark the first time Canadian drugstores are allowed to sell a 
controlled substance that is not an approved drug.

"I suspect it's going to be a very small pilot, just to work out the 
kinks," O'Brien said in an interview.

She said pharmacists can fill a real medical need.

"Most physicians don't have a lot of interest or expertise in using 
marijuana for medical purposes, so patients have been getting their 
information most likely from black-market dealers (or) recreational users," 
she said.

Some lay people may offer advice at so-called compassion clubs, but rarely 
is a medically trained professional available to advise on methods of 
ingestion or to warn about drug interactions.

"It's this whole step that's been removed from the medication process. . . 
. You need more than just written materials."

Pharmacists will need specialized training in how medical marijuana can be 
administered safely and effectively. Smoking has adverse effects and is 
discouraged, so that professionals may need to prepare tinctures, where the 
THC is extracted with alcohol and administered as drops.

An internal document from Health Canada says it could take up to three 
years to implement a national pharmacy distribution program.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman