Canadian Medical Association Position on Medical Marihuana (2010)

Canadian Medical Association Position on Medical Marihuana (2010)

Office for Public Health
1867 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 5W8
Fax: (613) 236-8864
Tel (toll free):
1-888-855-2555
publichealth@cma.ca

CMA Position: 4-December-2010

The CMA has always recognized and acknowledged the unique requirements of those individuals suffering from a terminal illness or chronic disease for which conventional therapies have not been effective and for whom marijuana for medicinal purposes may provide relief. However, there are a number of problems with the current Medical Marijuana access program. In order to find a solution to these outstanding problems, CMA makes the following recommendations.

1. 1. The advancement of scientific knowledge about medical marijuana must be encouraged. Given that there are currently over 4,000 patients receiving medical marijuana from Health Canada, CMA encourages the Government to properly study the safety, efficacy, most appropriate amount to be used, and the most effective delivery mechanism for treatment of specific conditions. The same safety and evidence standards should apply to medical marijuana as to pharmaceutical products under the FDA.
2. 2. With the increasing number of patients being prescribed medical marijuana, it is imperative that physicians know and understand the regulations and the use of medical marijuana in their practice settings. As such, CMA calls on the Government to work with the CMA, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and other relevant stakeholders, to develop compulsory education and licensing programs for physicians who prescribe marijuana.
3. Finally, until the problems with the MMARs are rectified, CMA lacks the basis upon which to revise its current policy. Physicians who wish to prescribe marijuana in their practices should consult relevant CMPA policy and guidelines in order to ensure appropriate medico-legal protection.

Note the sudden change in the role and assessment of competency to

CMA Position: January-2006

The CMA has always recognized and acknowledged the unique requirements of those individuals suffering from a terminal illness or chronic disease for which conventional therapies have not been effective and for whom marijuana for medicinal purposes may provide relief.
The new regulations (introduced in June 2005) reduced the onus on physicians to declare the need for, and dose of, marijuana, focusing instead on an attestation of diagnosis and failure of conventional therapies.
The government has now passed regulations which are an improvement to previous regulations. These regulations reduce the potential impact on the patient-physician relationship.
The CMA provided input to the revised medical marijuana regulations and accepts that physicians who feel qualified to recommend this product to patients do so in accordance with the regulations.
The advancement of scientific knowledge about medical marijuana must be encouraged. In order to encourage the research that is necessary to advance such knowledge, government should develop innovative methods to establish the safety, efficacy, most appropriate amount to be used, and the most effective delivery mechanism for treatment of specific conditions. The same safety standards should apply to medical marijuana as to pharmaceutical health products.