A JOINT A DAY KEEPS THE PAIN AWAY

We are seeing a lot of new trends as well as new laws being passed in this
country that I for one, thought I would never see in my lifetime. Maybe I
am way behind the times and should be paying more attention -- but really,
who ever thought we'd be attending a legal marriage between two people of
the same sex, or who ever thought we'd be sitting next to a guy at
Macdonald's (or wherever) that could very well be suing the company because
he became too overweight and unhealthy from eating their fast food. And
now! -- who ever thought we'd be sitting in the doctor's office beside
someone who wants the 'doc' to get them a joint of marijuana.

The federal government announced it will be making the drug available to
patient's for pain relief and that doctors will be distributing the
substance. The Saskatchewan Medical Association is not comfortable with the
courts forcing this upon the doctors in our communities. And I agree
strongly with their concerns.

The courts are asking the doctors to prescribe something that they have no
knowledge about. There have been no concrete medical studies done to give
guidance to doctors about the amount to be prescribed, what the side
affects may be and what conditions warrant a doctor to give the substance
to a patient. I mean, what does the doctor prescribe? "Take two or three
joints three times a day with your meals?" And since the use of marijuana
may alter your physiological and your emotional state, as well as giving
off toxic chemicals when smoked, why would a doctor feel comfortable
handing this out to their patients?

And since the cost is reportedly half of what the street value is, I can
bet there will be a lot more people lining up to see the doctors that all
of a sudden think their pain is getting worse. And when their pain isn't
too bad, I bet they can make a good living by selling the stuff on the street.

There may be a very valid use of marijuana in the control of pain for those
that suffer daily but at present, I really don't think it should be up to
the doctors to administer something that is in a trial stage and is
probably years away from being fully understood. They are professionals and
should not be forced by the courts to change their professional code of ethics.