SASKATCHEWAN DOCTORS TOLD TO USE CAUTION IN PRESCRIBING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

SASKATOON (CP) - Saskatchewan's College of Physicians and Surgeons is
urging doctors to be cautious in prescribing medical marijuana. "We would
encourage physicians to be cautious in relation to any new form of therapy
for which there is, frankly, very little evidence in regards to its safety
and effectiveness for medical purposes," college spokesman Dr. Dennis
Kendel said Tuesday.

Kendel said there have been few long-term studies done on pot, so possible
complications associated with its extended use are unknown.

Traditionally when a new drug is launched, it would go through years of
testing and observation to determine what sort of dosages work most
effectively and what the side effects are, he noted.

"That just hasn't happened with marijuana."

The college's medical marijuana policy also wants doctors to be prepared to
provide documentation acknowledging that patients have been informed that
the long-term complications associated with chronic marijuana use are unknown.

The college also expects physicians to document why they chose to prescribe
pot, as well as an inventory of the drugs and procedures previously tried
and the reason for their failure.

New federal regulations which came into force last summer allow certain
patients with chronic or terminal illnesses to apply to Health Canada for
permission to use marijuana.

The regulations apply to patients who have less than a year to live and
those suffering from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord
injuries, severe arthritis or epilepsy.

Timothy Hampton, Saskatchewan president of the National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws, estimates marijuana could help the conditions
of about 5,000 Saskatchewan patients.

"People have a tendency to pick and choose their studies no matter which
side they're on," he said. "I would suggest that doctors would be
well-served to make up their own minds just like everybody else . . .
instead of listening to the propaganda issued by various bureaucratic bodies."