Pubdate: Sat, 09 Mar 2013
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Allison Salz
Page: 5

HIGH MAINTENANCE

Changes to the way Canadians access medical marijuana has sparked
conversation amongst docs in Alberta.

Federal legislation tabled late last year would remove Health Canada
from its role in deciding the fate of medical marijuana applications,
leaving it to doctor discretion.

Under the new rules, the dried marijuana can be purchased from a
pharmacist, a licensed producer, or directly from their doctor.

Physicians would be allowed to sell, provide, or administer marijuana
as long as they were compliant with regulations like labelling and
dosage restrictions.

This poses great concern to some on the council of College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), as noted in a report
presented to council Friday.

Among their concerns, that physicians would be asked to provide a
prescription for a substance for which they feel there is no
scientific evidence of effectiveness.

"I think it's time to nip it in the bud, so to speak. I think it was a
mistake that medical marijuana was approved in the first place," said
member Kate Wood, referring to the government's own admission that
scientific studies have not demonstrated that marijuana is safe and
effective for medical use.

"I feel like there will be a lot of people running to the doctor to
get their prescription."

Canadian courts have found that individuals who "need" marijuana for
medical purposes have a right to reasonable access, reads the report.

"The concern I have, if I say I don't prescribe it because I don't
feel comfortable, will a complaint be filed?" said member Dr. Keith
Brownell.

"They should just legalize it like alcohol then."

Patients can currently access medical marijuana through a grower
designated by Health Canada or by getting licensed and growing it 
themselves.

Under the new regulations, marijuana would only be available from
commercially-regulated growers.

Vice President James Stone expressed concern with doctors dolling out
weed in their offices.

"I think the prescriber shouldn't be a dispenser, that creates
conflict." Stone said.

Sister colleges in Ontario and Quebec have indicated that they plan to
prohibit the prescription of marijuana by doctors, notes the report.

Council put the matter over to their next meeting for further
discussion.

There are currently 22,000 authorized users of medical marijuana
across the country.
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MAP posted-by: Matt