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Patients and experts fear prospective Alberta medicinal marijuana users will have an impossible time acquiring a prescription as new rules turn physicians into the "gatekeepers" of the drug. The concerns stem from new regulations implemented by Health Canada April 1, which have put the onus on doctors across the country to determine who can turn to commercial growers to treat their ailments with cannabis. Previously Health Canada had to approve applications to access the drug.
Numerous pro-marijuana advocates told Metro there were already very few doctors in Alberta willing to dole the bud, when compared with other provinces like B.C. Fonda Betts, chief operation officer of GreenLeaf Medical Clinic in Abbotsford, B.C., said many doctors are hesitant to prescribe marijuana because it comes with a huge learning curve. "It's a challenge for physicians who don't understand the cannabis landscape," she said. Betts added, "The medical marijuana industry is so fast moving, you have to keep your finger on the pulse. The medicine is changing all the time."
Meeting with patients via webcam, Betts said the doctor GreenLeaf has prescribed to a number of Albertans that can't find a doctor locally. After federal reforms took effect this week, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta was prompted to introduce new pre-prescription regulations. Among other requirements, physicians must now document more traditional treatments offered to their patient and provide evidence they have professional training specific to the use of marijuana before providing the drug. College spokesperson Kelly Eby was quick to point out that the federal-regulating body Health Canada has not approved the use of marijuana but was required by the courts to provide "reasonable access."
Eby said the new rules turn the college's members into "gatekeepers" of the controversial substance, thus prompting the new requirements. "Certainly, we've heard that their are concerns from (physicians) about their new role," she said. Eby said the number of marijuana-friendly doctors in Alberta is not actively tracked. But numerous users interviewed indicated anecdotally that bud-friendly physicians are few and far between. Calgary patient Lisa Kirkman said the new rules will likely drive the health community even further away from accepting marijuana it as a viable treatment option. "This is the one province where everybody has to leave the province to go find a doctor – a canabanoid specialist," said Kirkman, who had physicians in B.C. acquire marijuana prescriptions for both her and her son. "The science doesn't lie . . . what (college members) are basically saying is 'We are the worst doctors in all of Canada.' "
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Metronews.ca
Author: Leah Germain & Jeremy Nolais
Contact: Contact | Metro
Website: Pot-friendly Alberta docs in short supply | Metro
Numerous pro-marijuana advocates told Metro there were already very few doctors in Alberta willing to dole the bud, when compared with other provinces like B.C. Fonda Betts, chief operation officer of GreenLeaf Medical Clinic in Abbotsford, B.C., said many doctors are hesitant to prescribe marijuana because it comes with a huge learning curve. "It's a challenge for physicians who don't understand the cannabis landscape," she said. Betts added, "The medical marijuana industry is so fast moving, you have to keep your finger on the pulse. The medicine is changing all the time."
Meeting with patients via webcam, Betts said the doctor GreenLeaf has prescribed to a number of Albertans that can't find a doctor locally. After federal reforms took effect this week, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta was prompted to introduce new pre-prescription regulations. Among other requirements, physicians must now document more traditional treatments offered to their patient and provide evidence they have professional training specific to the use of marijuana before providing the drug. College spokesperson Kelly Eby was quick to point out that the federal-regulating body Health Canada has not approved the use of marijuana but was required by the courts to provide "reasonable access."
Eby said the new rules turn the college's members into "gatekeepers" of the controversial substance, thus prompting the new requirements. "Certainly, we've heard that their are concerns from (physicians) about their new role," she said. Eby said the number of marijuana-friendly doctors in Alberta is not actively tracked. But numerous users interviewed indicated anecdotally that bud-friendly physicians are few and far between. Calgary patient Lisa Kirkman said the new rules will likely drive the health community even further away from accepting marijuana it as a viable treatment option. "This is the one province where everybody has to leave the province to go find a doctor – a canabanoid specialist," said Kirkman, who had physicians in B.C. acquire marijuana prescriptions for both her and her son. "The science doesn't lie . . . what (college members) are basically saying is 'We are the worst doctors in all of Canada.' "
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Metronews.ca
Author: Leah Germain & Jeremy Nolais
Contact: Contact | Metro
Website: Pot-friendly Alberta docs in short supply | Metro
