cannabisnews.com: Physician Reluctant To Prescribe Questionable Pot





Physician Reluctant To Prescribe Questionable Pot
Posted by FoM on August 11, 2001 at 15:06:43 PT
By Duncan Thorne, Journal Staff Writer
Source: Edmonton Journal 
Pain specialist Dr. Brian Knight isn't keen to prescribe marijuana under Health Canada's new rules, which came into effect this month. The Edmonton anesthesiologist is concerned that patients will get their cannabis from illegal sources and that the drug will be of uncertain quality. Knight prefers to wait until clinical trials show it works. That said, he acknowledges he once filled out the paperwork under the previous rules to help a patient win an exemption from possession charges. 
"At that time I filled it out for her because she was quite desperate," he said. He warned her it would do her no good because she would have to get her marijuana through a clinical trial -- and there were none in Edmonton. Knight, who runs a pain clinic with two other specialists, can see himself in certain circumstances going along with patients' wishes under the new rules. "I do, in my practice, have a number of patients who tell me that they smoke marijuana for their chronic pain," he said. "I think if one of those people approached me, having been on it, I would say, 'Look I'll sign that form so that you don't get prosecuted,' if I thought what they were doing was appropriate." Still, he shares concerns of doctors at University Hospital's multiple sclerosis clinic, who have decided not to help patients get marijuana permits, that there's little evidence the drug works. The first federally funded clinical trial doesn't start until January in Montreal. It's been possible before now to win a medical exemption from the legal ban on possession. But last summer a court faulted the process on constitutional grounds and gave the federal government until this summer to introduce clear regulations. Knight said there's still the problem of access to legal marijuana. "There is, as yet, no government-approved source for it. In other words they'll be buying it from somebody who is presumably breaking the law by trafficking in drugs." The rules do let patients grow their own. Hepatitis C sufferer Dale Strohmaier, who has an exemption under the old rules, has his own small crop but said he still has to buy on the street sometimes because spider mites can wipe out his production. By next February there should be a legal supply for individual patients, from a federally regulated and quality-controlled marijuana-growing operation at Flin Flon, Man. Until then there will be concerns over the quality of the drug, even if a patient has a legal source, Knight said. As of Sunday, when Health Canada last checked, there were 335 Canadians with exemptions allowing them to use marijuana for medical purposes. The department does not provide totals by province or region. Knight said that since the new rules took effect no patients have asked him for approval to use marijuana. He said that may take time because he doesn't accept walk-in patients. Strohmaier says, "I'm a living example of the benefits of medical marijuana." Note: He prefers to wait for clinical trials, reliable source.Complete Title: Pain Physician Reluctant To Prescribe Questionable PotSource: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)Author: Duncan Thorne, Journal Staff WriterPublished: Saturday, August 11, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Edmonton JournalContact: letters thejournal.southam.caWebsite: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmActing High Above The Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10558.shtml  No Easy Pot Prescriptions: Local MDshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10481.shtml CannabisNews Articles - Canadahttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=canada 
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Comment #2 posted by dddd on August 12, 2001 at 07:03:24 PT
good one Ethan,,
..it reminds me of the first time I had to hire a lawyer.I was not sure whether I could tell him the actual truth,because I wasnt sure if he could be trusted to tattle tothe authorities,,and I think the same fear happens when onevisits a doctor..people hate admitting the specifics of theirhealth,and habits to themselves,and much more admitting thingsto a doctor,who would seem likely to cast a discerning eyetoward the patient,who is all too aware of most of their ownunhealthy habits......It seems strange now,but in my younger years,, I used to view doctors,and medical,dental,and even legal professionals ,,as being somehow above normal people,,never making mistakes,........it wasnt long before reality hit me with a baseball bat,ourfamily doctor got in trouble for leaving a big hunk of gauze in myaunts abdomen,,,then,,the family dentist got in trouble for gassingyoung chicks,and fiddling about while they were out cold,,,,I usedto wear glasses in elementary school,I kept complaining to my Momabout severe headaches,as I was an avid reader,and these werereading glasses.After numerous trips to the the old,doddering familyoptomitrist,I talked my Mom into getting a second opinion....The "secondopinion" optomitrist was appalled,,,he said I didnt need glasses at all....I'll tell you the lawyer stories another time.(and please dont think Iam somehow lumping lawyers in with doctors.Both professions havemembers of varying competence,and intention,,but I think the medicalarts is a somewhat more noble occupation.)Two of the things that make a profesional....1.They make a minimal amount of mistakes.2.When they do make a mistake,they are really good at fixing it,(or in the case ofpoliticians,covering it up).dddd
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on August 12, 2001 at 04:17:23 PT:
Be Open Minded, and They Will Come
It is continually amazing to me when experienced doctors claim that, "None of my patients smoke marijuana." It is usually the same people who claim, "None of my patients use herbs." Sorry. Wrong. Patients know when a physician is open or not to alternative practices. I constantly have the experience that a doctor refers a patient to me for consultation, and will later say, "I had no idea Mrs. Jones was taking ----. She never told me."Ideas and communication are like seeds: They often only grow in fertile fields. If you are not open to certain conversations, they do not tend to happen. A great example of that was evident to me the other day. I had sent around copies of my cannabis in headache questionnaire to headache specialists around the world. Some of the comments were choice:"There are many better drugs available." "I can't take part in your study because --- [14 different excuses]"My favorite came from a doctor from a country with repressive attitudes about drugs in general and cannabis in particular, "I have seen 6000 patients with migraine, and not one of them ever used cannabis."Think again, dude. They do, but merely didn't trust you to mention it.
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