Re: Medical marijuana producers attempting to woo doctors, July 24.
As the directors of the association representing the majority of licensed producers in Canada, we believe it is imperative that patients with a range of chronic illnesses and severe disabilities be able to manage their conditions through a variety of treatment options, including medical cannabis. It is therefore equally imperative that health-care practitioners have access to the information necessary to independently assess whether medical cannabis has a place in their practice.
In this Citizen article, Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, president of the Canadian Medical Association, expressed some often-heard reasons for hesitation regarding the promotion of medical cannabis to doctors. But those concerns are simply not supported by the available evidence. While it is true that there is less clinical data available on cannabis than for many other medicines, this is largely due to the stigma associated with its recreational use and its current legal status as an illicit substance. A wealth of data has already been generated regarding the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis, and more clinical studies are being published every year. Meantime, thousands of patients across Canada are currently authorized with Health Canada to receive cannabis legally for therapeutic purposes, and understandably patients continue to seek information from their doctors about this treatment option.
Unfortunately, Dr. Francescutti’s statements completely undermine the thousands of physicians who have successfully incorporated cannabis into their treatment options, and dismiss the experience of tens of thousands of patients who have found cannabis to be an effective treatment option. However, where we can agree is that more research is required, and clinicians and researchers should be prepared to address this challenge in a rational and methodical manner, with the health and well-being of critically and chronically ill Canadians as the paramount concern and consideration.
Linda Smith, ABcann, Neil Closner, MedReleaf, Marc Wayne, Bedrocan, Mark Zekulin, Tweed,
Board of Directors, Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association (CMCIA)
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Letter: Cannabis as a treatment option
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