BIG JUMP IN LEGAL DOPE REQUESTS FOR ARTHRITIS

The federal government has seen a staggering increase in the number
of requests to to legally obtain medical marijuana from applicants
claiming they have severe arthritis.

Applications to Health Canada based on severe arthritis claims jumped
2,400 per cent between 2008 and 2010, far outstripping the number of
claims for cancer, HIV/AIDS and other serious diseases, an Ottawa
Citizen analysis has found.

The spike in arthritis claims was part of an overall rise in
applications over the past three years, as more private clinics
specializing in marijuana began referring patients to pot-friendly
doctors willing to sign their forms.

But unless there has been an enormous, undocumented surge in
arthritis rates in Canada over the past three years, the data
suggests that patients or their doctors may be gaming the
government's rules to obtain medical marijuana more easily.

Arthritis was listed as the reason for 40 per cent of all
applications under the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations received
so far in 2011. That was double the rate seen in 2008, according to
electronic records released to the Citizen under the Access to Information Act.

Severe arthritis is one of the Category 1 illnesses that require
patients to obtain the signature of just a single doctor under Health
Canada rules. Cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS infections and
spinal cord injuries and disease are also listed in Category 1, but
often have more obvious visible symptom.

Patients with other Category 2 illnesses such as hepatitis, glaucoma
or ulcerative colitis must go through the additional step of getting
a specialist to sign their applications, a process that can take many
months and does not always succeed.

Some marijuana advocates believe that patients are asking doctors to
sign off on the faster Category 1 condition of severe arthritis to
speed their applications.

"I think a lot of people are applying under arthritis even if they
may have a dif-ferent condition," says Scott Gilbert, who runs the
Hamilton Medical Marijuana Centre. "They are going with whatever is
the easier one to get approved on."

A savvy doctor familiar with the MMAR program might ask if the
patient has arthritis, in addition to the other conditions.

Health Canada is conducting a review of MMAR and plans to overhaul
the way the program works, in part by transferring more authority to
doctors. The department says it is required to approve applications
that have been signed by a doctor and meet the conditions of the
MMAR. It has noticed the sharp increase in marijuana applications but
doesn't know why, exactly, the numbers are rising so sharply.

"Increasing awareness of the program among patient groups and
treating physicians is likely a key contributing factor," said Health
Canada spokesman Gary Holub in an email.

"The risk of abuse exists within the current system.

That's why changes are being proposed that will balance the
legitimate needs of patients, while reducing the risk of abuse."

Patients often complain that the refusal of doctors to approve their
applications is the greatest obstacle to entering the program. But
the surging number of applications suggest they are finding other
ways to get approved.

Many privately run clinics are sprouting up across the country, with
in-house physicians to sign the 33page application form or provide
referrals to doctors who are willing.

Rielle Capler of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis
Dispensaries says she's concerned about clinics asking large fees.

"There are some that have been charging $500. But this is what it has come to."

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS

Since 2001, Canada has allowed some patients to apply for
authorization to possess and, in some cases, grow marijuana. The
rules are called the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations.

Who can apply?

Under the MMAR, people who are classified as Category 1 can apply to
relieve symptoms of these diseases: Cancer, multiple sclerosis,
HIV/AIDS infection, spinal cord injury or disease, severe form of
arthritis, and seizures caused by epilepsy.

Category 1 patients need their doctor to fill out a form recommending
their treatment with medical marijuana. Then their application must
be approved.

Category 2 patients have one or more debilitating symptoms of another
illness not covered in Category 1. They require a specialist to
attest that conventional treatments have failed or are not
appropriate to relieve their symptoms.

Types of authorizations

A patient can be authorized to possess marijuana produced for Health
Canada by Prairie Plant Systems. The typical amount allowed varies
from between one and five grams. It is sold for $5 plus taxes per gram.

Patients can be authorized to possess marijuana they have grown
themselves. They can purchase a package of 30 seeds for $20 plus taxes.

A patient can be authorized to possess marijuana grown by a person
designated as his or her producer. A designated grower can produce
marijuana for a maximum of two patients.