DOCS GET THEIR POT INFO FROM PATIENTS

OTTAWA -- Physicians who approve the use of medicinal marijuana say
their clinical knowledge of the drug is hazy and they rely heavily on
their patients to help them craft treatment plans.

The physicians' knowledge of medical marijuana "had most often come
directly (in anecdotal form) from their patients' experience with the
drug," concludes the study of physician attitudes.

"This model obscures the boundary between physician and patient and
contravenes conventional medical practice which relies almost
exclusively on scientific evidence-based information.

"Many physicians expressed concern about this blurring' of boundary
between patient and doctor."

The study drew from a pool of 917 doctors nationwide who were
involved at that time in treating patients with pot. The group was
narrowed to 30 family doctors and specialists, with whom interviews
were conducted. The survey is on a government website.

Overall, the group did not view marijuana as a "high risk" drug. "The
majority agreed that the positive effects of marihuana [sic] for
medical purposes outweighed its negative effects; the harmful effects
of prescription drug abuse (namely narcotics) were considerably more
of a concern and physicians maintained that marihuana was not
physiologically addictive ," the study said.

But doctors still felt they needed to know much more about the drug,
which, outside of authorized medicinal uses, is illegal to own, grow
or sell in Canada.

FAST FACTS

As of October 2007:

- - 2,261 people have Health Canada's permission to possess dried
marijuana" for medical reasons.

- - 1,256 physicians "support" these patients.

- - 1,581 people are permitted to cultivate and produce marijuana for
medical purposes.

Source: Health Canada