Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jun 2014
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2014 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Douglas Quan
Page: A13
Referenced: Regulations Amending the Narcotic Control Regulations and 
the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (Communication of 
Information): 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2014/2014-06-14/html/reg1-eng.php

MEDICAL POT SUPPLIERS MAY HAVE TO PROVIDE INFO

Canada's health regulator is proposing new rules to prevent abuse of 
the medical marijuana system by patients and doctors.

Health Canada is proposing that licensed commercial medical marijuana 
suppliers be required to periodically hand over to provincial 
authorities records showing the names of doctors who have authorized 
marijuana use, as well as basic information about their patients, 
including the quantities prescribed to them and period of use.

These measures, officials say, will help to monitor for and prevent 
doctors from prescribing "high dosages" and patients from going to 
more than one doctor to get prescriptions ("double doctoring") or 
going to more than one producer.

According to Health Canada, dried marijuana, like other narcotics 
used for medical purposes, "is susceptible to misuse and abuse," 
which is why more oversight is needed.

John Conroy, a B.C. lawyer who has represented medical-marijuana 
patients, said Friday while it appears federal regulators are trying 
to bring medical marijuana in line with other prescribed drugs in 
terms of record-keeping, he worries the rules could "further dampen 
or add to the reluctance on the part of doctors to authorize or 
prescribe" marijuana.

And unlike other controlled substances, marijuana doesn't have a 
"lethal dose," so the concerns about abuse aren't as serious, he said.

Representatives of two licensed producers said Friday the 
requirements will be an extra burden on them but they understand what 
Health Canada is trying to do.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom