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The420Guy
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Doctors worried about how to prescribe
Weeding out doctors who'll prescribe medical marijuana could be
difficult for the terminally ill and those with chronic pain when
federal rules around the drug's use come into effect Monday.
Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Clayne Steed has
written a letter to federal Health Minister Allan Rock expressing
concerns over the drug -- and urged members at the same time to think
twice about prescribing it.
"Physicians are being asked to authorize the use of a drug about
which we don't know the benefits, the risks, the side-effects, the
dosage or even the potency that's available," said Steed.
"That's not in the best interest of patient safety."
Steed said this is the first time doctors have been asked to OK
a drug without comprehensive tests to ensure its effectiveness and
safety -- and clear research suggesting what ailments it works for.
The Canadian Medical Association has already voiced its worries
to Rock, said president Dr. Peter Barrett, including the possibility
some will seek the drug for recreational use.
LACKS GUIDELINES
"Doctors have always been concerned about drug shoppers, but at
least we had guidelines. We're going to be in that position now
without guidelines," he said.
And Barrett said that could create tension with patients
wondering why their doctors won't prescribe marijuana.
"It's going to create some problems with the doctor-patient
relationship."
Barrett expects some doctors who've been "agitating" for medical
marijuana's acceptance will prescribe, but the majority won't because
they don't even know how much to prescribe -- or how patients should
take it.
Grant Krieger, a Calgary medical marijuana crusader, is also
upset there hasn't been the research to distinguish which kinds of
marijuana plants, cultivated in which ways, work best for certain
illnesses.
So, he's applying to the government to be able to run
experiments himself on the leaf.
But his new Grant Krieger Cannabis Research Foundation is
raising doctors' eyebrows, said the AMA, including one who'd been
asked to complete a form from the foundation, rather than the
government form.
But Krieger questions the government program -- saying the
concentrations of THC aren't high enough to relieve pain.
"It's the best muscle relaxant I've come across, especially when
I ingest it orally in butter on my food," said Krieger.
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jul 2001
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 The Calgary Sun
Contact: callet@sunpub.com
Website: Under Construction fyicalgary.com
Pubdate: July 28, 2001
Author: Nova Pierson
Weeding out doctors who'll prescribe medical marijuana could be
difficult for the terminally ill and those with chronic pain when
federal rules around the drug's use come into effect Monday.
Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Clayne Steed has
written a letter to federal Health Minister Allan Rock expressing
concerns over the drug -- and urged members at the same time to think
twice about prescribing it.
"Physicians are being asked to authorize the use of a drug about
which we don't know the benefits, the risks, the side-effects, the
dosage or even the potency that's available," said Steed.
"That's not in the best interest of patient safety."
Steed said this is the first time doctors have been asked to OK
a drug without comprehensive tests to ensure its effectiveness and
safety -- and clear research suggesting what ailments it works for.
The Canadian Medical Association has already voiced its worries
to Rock, said president Dr. Peter Barrett, including the possibility
some will seek the drug for recreational use.
LACKS GUIDELINES
"Doctors have always been concerned about drug shoppers, but at
least we had guidelines. We're going to be in that position now
without guidelines," he said.
And Barrett said that could create tension with patients
wondering why their doctors won't prescribe marijuana.
"It's going to create some problems with the doctor-patient
relationship."
Barrett expects some doctors who've been "agitating" for medical
marijuana's acceptance will prescribe, but the majority won't because
they don't even know how much to prescribe -- or how patients should
take it.
Grant Krieger, a Calgary medical marijuana crusader, is also
upset there hasn't been the research to distinguish which kinds of
marijuana plants, cultivated in which ways, work best for certain
illnesses.
So, he's applying to the government to be able to run
experiments himself on the leaf.
But his new Grant Krieger Cannabis Research Foundation is
raising doctors' eyebrows, said the AMA, including one who'd been
asked to complete a form from the foundation, rather than the
government form.
But Krieger questions the government program -- saying the
concentrations of THC aren't high enough to relieve pain.
"It's the best muscle relaxant I've come across, especially when
I ingest it orally in butter on my food," said Krieger.
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jul 2001
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 The Calgary Sun
Contact: callet@sunpub.com
Website: Under Construction fyicalgary.com
Pubdate: July 28, 2001
Author: Nova Pierson