cannabisnews.com: CHR Eyes Medicinal Pot 'Room' CHR Eyes Medicinal Pot 'Room' Posted by FoM on January 06, 2002 at 09:38:38 PT By Michael Wood -- Calgary Sun Source: Calgary Sun The city's health authority is drafting procedural plans that will allow patients to smoke marijuana while in their care, officials have told the Sun. As the Canadian government readies its first batch of medicinal marijuana for transport, officials at the Calgary Health Region are devising strategy to deal with requests by patients wanting to use marijuana while on hospital property, by providing "a safe and private place" for users to smoke. "It would be appropriate to recognize ... that we have to look at all options for the use of marijuana in our hospitals," CHR communications adviser Brenda Barootes told the Sun. In its infant stage and subject to approval by a medical advisory board, the pot project could see patients legally allowed to smoke marijuana "in-house" as officials also work to hammer-out plans that would 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." 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," Barootes said, adding there have been no such requests by patients at any CHR facility to date. While Barootes would not speculate a timeline on drawing up hospital protocol, nor what it may include, one scenario would see users smoke in a secured and ventilated room, as was the case at San Francisco General Hospital. That facility was the stage of recent marijuana trials studying the effects of weed on AIDS patients and its interaction with other medicines. "We had a general clinical research centre room set up with an exhaust fan to the outside," said Dr. Donald Abrams, who spearheaded the research. The marijuana, 1,400 cigarettes in all, was kept separate from other medicines in a freezer under lock and key. Note: Patients need place to smoke.Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)Author: Michael Wood Published: January 6, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Calgary SunContact: callet sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmHospitals Rolling On Pot Policieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11696.shtmlLegal Pot Available on Jan. 1 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11622.shtmlAfter Two-Decade Halt, Marijuana Research Is Sethttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11578.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on January 06, 2002 at 16:19:17 PT: I confess. OK, I admit I kept reopeng the bag, but it was so seedy, and I was hungry! Yes way Jose [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by lookinside on January 06, 2002 at 13:39:20 PT: eric... all that means is that the herb, reabsorbs the water that it lost during freezing...if it was at an optimum moisture level when it was frozen, it will be close to that after it has been thawed in the sealed container... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on January 06, 2002 at 13:30:13 PT freezing I've also had good results freezing. Stored a few grams for 3 years in a tightly-closed vitamin bottle with little loss of potency. I'm not sophisticated enough to know about proper hydration. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by lookinside on January 06, 2002 at 10:42:49 PT: freezing.. the key(personal experience speaking) to preserving cannabis in a frezer is to maintain the moisture levels...freezer bags are porous to air and water vapor...a "frost free" freezer will slowly dehydrate anything stored that way...tightly sealed glass jars are the best containers i've tried...when thawing, DON'T open the jar for at least 24 hours...this allows the moisture(visible as ice crystals) to melt and rehydrate the cannabis...no moisture should be visible when you open the jar...the buds should have much the same texture as when they were first frozen... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Jose Melendez on January 06, 2002 at 10:41:48 PT: This makes me mad... from: http://www.aids.org/immunet/atn.nsf/page/a-348-02"This trial had to be designed to look at safety instead of efficacy, because the Federal government must give special permission for any marijuana study, and provide the drug as well. It has clearly been Federal policy to only allow studies that look for possible problems with marijuana, so that the study will either find something negative, or find nothing; studies testing for medical benefit have not yet been allowed, so that no information favorable to marijuana could come into existence." Marijuana Safety Study Completed: Weight Gain, No Safety Problems [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on January 06, 2002 at 09:57:34 PT: <GRIN> ...and smoking Jose Melendez [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on January 06, 2002 at 09:56:48 PT: do NOT freeze Don't freeze your pot, it turns to powder. Although I hear from Barry McCaffery it is most dangerous if it is twelve years old... Arrest Prohibition - Drug War is TREASON! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment