Pubdate: Fri, 08 Apr 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Alexandra Posadzki
Page: B3

PHARMACISTS WANT 'FRONTLINE' POT ROLE

TORONTO - An association that represents individual pharmacists has 
changed its stance on medical cannabis, saying pharmacists should 
play a "front-line" role in dispensing the drug.

The Canadian Pharmacists Association said it has updated its position 
because it's growing concerned about what it calls a "lack of 
clinical oversight" in the use of medical marijuana.

The group said in a statement Thursday that pharmacists are 
"medication experts" and therefore could help identify potential 
problems such as drug interactions, contraindications and potentially 
addictive behaviour.

However, licensed cannabis producers said they don't think that 
pharmacies should be the only way for patients to access medical marijuana.

"I think the pharmacy model is a good option for patients, but in 
addition to the existing mail-order and customer-service system we 
have today," said Greg Engel, the CEO of B.C.-based Tilray. "That's 
giving patients options."

The Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association said that if 
pharmacies become the sole option, replacing the current mail-order 
system, that would leave patients at a disadvantage.

The association, which represents licensed cannabis producers, said 
it would be impossible for pharmacies to stock the hundreds of 
strains of marijuana that patients are able to access today. Colette 
Rivet, executive director of the CMCIA, said it's important for 
patients to have a wide array of choices when it comes to strands.

"You have to try some different ones sometimes - with different THC 
or CBD content - to make sure it addresses the symptoms of your 
particular condition," Rivet said.

THC and CBD are abbreviations for tetrahydrocannabinol and 
cannabidiol, two of the active components of medical marijuana.

Rivet said that moving distribution over to pharmacies and getting 
rid of the mail-order system would also increase costs for consumers 
- - which are already high considering that in most instances, cannabis 
is not covered by health insurance plans. "Pharmacies have large 
overheads, and they add a dispensing fee," said Rivet.

Rivet also noted that pharmacists were given the option of 
participating in the distribution model when Health Canada's medical 
marijuana regulations were introduced in 2013.

But they shied away, citing insufficient evidence of the drug's 
therapeutic effects, Rivet said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom