Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jul 2014
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.montrealgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Jordan Press
Page: A7

OTTAWA MAY LIMIT MEDICAL POT FOR VETERANS

Costs, as well as health concerns, are rising

Veterans Affairs Canada is considering capping its medical marijuana
program, limiting how many grams of pot former military personnel can
receive and how much the government will pay.

Veterans Affairs wants to ensure costs for the burgeoning program
don't spiral out of control. The cap, proposed last month, is also
aimed at addressing medical concerns over the efficacy and safety of
using marijuana for medicinal reasons.

Federally, Veterans Affairs Canada is the only publicly funded payer
for medical marijuana. Veterans who have a doctor's note for marijuana
can receive regular benefits from the government to cover all, or
most, of the costs.

Between 2011 and 2013, the number of veterans in the program, as well
as its cost, have increased about fourfold, according to an internal
briefing note obtained by Postmedia News. In 2013, 121 veterans
received assistance for medical pot, at a cost of $353,000 to the 
department.

Even more veterans use marijuana outside any formal pot program to
treat physical pain and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder,
said Mike Blais, founder of Canadian Veterans Advocacy.

More veterans want to be in the program and are asking for daily doses
beyond what the department feels is safe. Without the cap, "uptake is
expected to increase significantly," reads the June note to Veterans
Affairs Minister Julian Fantino.

Although most prescriptions were for five grams a day, between April
and June the department received 22 requests for 10 grams a day or
higher, the briefing note says.

"It appears that doses being prescribed may be beginning to climb,"
the note reads.

By putting limits on the program, the department believes it can
strike the right balance and also give doctors some guidelines, as
their regulatory bodies are skeptical about having their members
prescribe marijuana.

Quebec recommends its doctors don't prescribe, Fantino was told in the
briefing note.

The department recommended capping coverage to veterans at five grams
per day, and a maximum cost of $9 per gram. Those veterans approved
for funds could go beyond these limits, but would have to cover the
difference themselves.

The veterans currently in the program would be allowed to keep
whatever benefit levels they receive, but would have their files sent
to a review board to see if medical marijuana usage could be brought
"to a safer level."
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MAP posted-by: Matt