PHARMACISTS WANT MORE RESEARCH

Re: Medical Marijuana, Letter to the Editor, Aug. 29.

The Canadian Pharmacists Association supports Anne McLellan's emphasis on
the need for further research regarding the safety and efficacy of medical
marijuana. At the same time, CPhA encourages a proactive process to gather
together the necessary information that will allow informed decisionmaking
so that patients who might benefit from its use will have access to it in a
timely manner.

CPhA agrees with the Ms. McLellan, the Minister of Health, that marijuana
should be subject to the same standards as other prescription drugs. We
fully appreciate doctors' reluctance to prescribe it without proper
scientific evidence that it provides more benefit than harm.

Work needs to be done to develop a standardized product and to produce
evidence-based guidelines that support physicians' prescribing. In the
meantime, we're pleased that it is still available to patients on
compassionate grounds.

Last spring, when the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations were published
in Canada Gazette Part 1 (April 7, 2001), CPhA submitted its concerns in
writing. CPhA's concerns include control of marijuana, quality and potency
of product, safety and efficacy, access to appropriate care and appropriate
prescribing.

Jeff Poston, PhD, MRPharmS, Executive Director, Ottawa.