Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2014
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2014 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Marc Wayne
Page: A17

A BLUEPRINT FOR DECRIMINALIZING POT, AND USING IT SAFELY

Re: Don't Smoke Pot, Canadian MDs Warn, Aug. 21.

The Canadian Medical Association is quite right to point out that 
there are particular hazards associated with smoking any plant 
material, including medicinal cannabis. While some patients, 
particularly those who use small quantities of marijuana, choose to 
smoke it, the preferred method of delivery is through the use of a 
vaporizer - a device that heats the cannabis to release the 
cannabinoids (the active ingredients), but does not burn it. There is 
good clinical evidence to show that vaporized cannabis contains 
significantly lower levels of toxins and harmful chemicals.

In addition, there is one medicinal cannabis vaporizer approved in 
Canada as a class 2 medical device. This allows patients to use 
cannabis to manage the symptoms of health conditions, such as chronic 
pain, multiple sclerosis, anxiety and insomnia, while avoiding the 
degree of risk involved in smoking a plant product.

This is an important distinction, because there is clinical value in 
patients being able to use medicinal cannabis by inhaling, rather 
than ingesting it. Because the cannabis vapour is absorbed through 
the lining of the lungs, this method delivers the therapeutic effect 
more rapidly and allows patients to control their dosage effectively.

Marc Wayne, Toronto.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom