Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jul 2016
Source: Enterprise-Bulletin, The (CN ON)
Page: 17
Copyright: 2016, Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin
Contact: http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/letters
Website: http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2267
Author: Jt McVeigh

DOCTORS FIND MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Medical cannabis use is very much in the news, but not without some 
enormous challenges, particularly for the family physician.

The government has been forced to provide access and has off-loaded 
this access to doctors, but Health Canada still says that they have 
not reviewed the data and refuses to provide approval for use. Now, 
Ontario doctors have to find a way to deal with patients looking for 
relief from chronic pain.

Dr. John Hanlon, the inaugural program director of the University of 
Toronto Pain Medicine Residency spoke to area doctors by invitation 
of Canadian Cannabis Clinics. A medical cannabis clinic recently 
opened in Collingwood, headed by Thornbury physician Dr. Linda Morel.

"It's hugely unfair to doctors to be put in this position," said 
Hanlon. "I think that it will change in time, I'm not a big fan of 
"big Pharma," but at least with their money and their power we will 
get larger data and information on what strains to use and hopefully 
better preparations, like a ventolin inhaler, so that it looks more 
like medicine."

"Rolling a joint is not medicine, I don't care what anyone says."

Hanlon's research has proved positive evidence that in some cases, 
cannabis is a much better tool for pain management, however there are caveats.

Unlike an opioid, Oxycontin for instance, where the results are felt 
immediately, there is some preparation with cannabis. There are three 
hybrid strains of the product, and dosage is highly individualized.

On the upside, there aren't the dangers associated with traditional 
pain medications, where the effectiveness of long-term opioids 
presents particular risk, especially for addiction.

Hanlon allowed that opioid misuse accounts for two deaths a day in Ontario.

"There are two plants commonly used in medicine, the poppy plant and 
marijuana, and despite poppies being presented as pretty pills by 
"big Pharma," it is, indeed, the most dangerous," said Hanlon.

Compounding the controversy and confusion is the proliferation of 
dispensaries popping up throughout North America.

"You can go online and find a naturopath in British Columbia who, for 
$500, will forward you a medical document to get cannabis from a 
dispensary," said Hanlon. "There's no doctor, no medical history and 
no relationship with the person giving you the drug."

Legally it is an enormous grey area for the police. Medically, it 
could be a nightmare.

"The recreational stuff is going to be super high THC, blow-your-mind 
kind of stuff, and the medical cannabis will be lower THC, so there 
are very different preparations. The people seeking to get high are 
not going to be happy with the medicinal stuff," said Hanlon.

Regardless of the medical opinion, the recreational product will get 
you right in the pocketbook.

"When the government legalizes recreational marijuana, they are going 
to tax the hell out of it," said Hanlon. "That's what will drive 
people to the medical stuff, to avoid the taxes. It's already 
happening in Colorado."

But, will doctors feel comfortable prescribing cannabis or be willing 
to refer their patients to a medical cannabis clinic?

"People's attitudes are changing. It's not as if they want to see 
grandma high, but it's because they're desperate." said Hanlon. "Now 
that 90-year-old lady may become confused or have poor balance with 
the cannabis, but she certainly is not going to have respitory 
depression and she certainly will not die from cannabis. That's the 
big difference."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom