HOSPITALS ROLLING ON POT POLICIES

Health chiefs in Edmonton and Calgary are drafting policies to allow
patients to smoke marijuana in hospitals.

As the Canadian government readies its first batch of medicinal marijuana
for transport, officials at the Capital and Calgary health regions are
devising a strategy to deal with patients who want to toke while on
hospital property.

"It would be appropriate to recognize ... that we have to look at all
options for the use of marijuana in our hospitals," said Calgary health
spokesman Brenda Barootes.

In its infant stage and subject to approval by a medical advisory board,
the pot project could see patients legally allowed to toke "in-house" as
officials also work to hammer out plans to ensure "a continuity of supply
for the patients," Barootes said.

When asked if that could include hospitals bringing in marijuana for
patient use, Barootes replied: "Theoretically, yes. "That will be one of
the things we look at."

Capital Health spokesman Kelly Eby said it's hoped there will be policy
proposals on the table in the next few months.

"We don't have a formal policy at the moment, but we're working on one,"
she said. "It's in development and we hope to have it ready within the next
few months."

A key issue facing hospital chiefs will be setting aside space for medical
marijuana users away from other, less herbally inclined patients and staff,
as well as ensuring correct administration of the drug to card-carrying users.

"As with any other drug being used, we have to ensure that it's being used
appropriately; that the patient is legally authorized to do so; and we
would need to be sure we're providing a safe and private place for use -
safe from impact to other patients and staff," said

Barootes, adding there have been no such requests by patients so far. The
announcement comes on the heels of last month's advisory that people on a
list for use of medical marijuana could begin smoking government-approved
joints within weeks from the first batch of federally approved medicinal pot.

The crop, which could supply as many as 680 people, was harvested at an
abandoned mine in Flin Flon, Man.

Under one proposal in Calgary, pot users would smoke in a secured and
ventilated room, as was the case at San Francisco general hospital. That
facility was the site of recent marijuana trials studying the effects of
weed on AIDS patients and its interaction with other medicines.

Dr. Donald Abrams, who spearheaded the San Francisco project, called the
Alberta moves "compassionate and progressive. It makes sense. "Hopefully,
(the U.S. government) is watching carefully to see how this works."