Statement from the Canadian Medical Association on new regulations on Medical Marijuana

A statement by the president of the Canadian Medical Association was provided recently. Canada’s doctors worry that the announcement of new regulations to govern the use of medical marijuana ignores the fact that there is no clinical evidence to back up its use as a medical therapy. This approach runs contrary to Canadians’ position on this issue as reported in an Ipsos Reid poll conducted for the CMA earlier this year. The poll found that 85 per cent of Canadians believe that medical marijuana should go through the same rigorous testing and approval as other medicines. Marijuana is a complex substance with strains that vary greatly in power and effect, but we have no information on potency, dosage or how it interacts with other therapies. The beneficial effects of marijuana have not been rigorously tested and it has a huge potential to cause harm. With the federal government vacating its role, there is no one to certify that the drug will not harm the patient. The Ipsos Reid poll also found that almost eight in 10 Canadians agreed that Health Canada, as the body that approves prescription medicines for safety and efficacy, should maintain its current role in authorizing the use of medical marijuana for patients. The use of medical marijuana has grown because there aren’t better treatments for people battling chronic pain. This is an area that definitely needs greater attention. The federal government will not help address this lack by abdicating its responsibility to protect the health of Canadians.