Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jun 2007
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal - Canada)

MEDICAL POT USERS WANT HEALTH CANADA TO BUTT OUT

Medicinal users of marijuana are angry with Health Canada for telling 
doctors to keep dosages low.

Some users say that not only violates doctor-patient confidentiality, 
it's also wrong for bureaucrats to make judgments about the medical 
needs of people they've never seen.

Alison Myrden in Burlington, below, says her doctor was challenged by 
bureaucrats about her 20- to 28-gram daily dose.

"They asked to lower it more than once, and my doctor and I both 
refused," said Myrden, 43, who uses marijuana for multiple sclerosis 
and another painful condition.

Her message to Health Canada: "Back off -- leave our doctors alone."

The department campaign to keep doses to five grams or less includes 
postings on its website referring to studies indicating most medical 
users need only one to three grams daily.

But a spokesman for the department said final decisions on dosage are 
always left to doctors.

As of last month, 1,774 patients were licensed to use medical 
marijuana, About 1,000 of them grow it themselves. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake