But Where's The Science? New evidence-based guidelines are urgently needed to help doctors negotiate Canada's hazy medical marijuana landscape, particularly in light of Health Canada's efforts to impose new dose limits, say the nation's leading cannabis researcher and doctors who have been queried about their marijuana authorizations. Canada should also re-establish a formal process for developing responsible dosing strategies, says Mark Ware of McGill's University Health Centre, the sole researcher funded under the now defunct Medical Marijuana Research Program (CMAJ 2006;175:[12]: 1507-8). [continues 948 words]
The federal government's decision to cancel the Medical Marijuana Research Program (MMRP) sends a strong message that clinical research into the risks and benefits of herbal cannabis -- the kind distributed by Ottawa under Supreme Court order -- is not a priority. The discontinuation also signals Canada is no longer interested in being a leader in cannabinoid research despite its unique position as the only country with a federally controlled marijuana grow-op to supply registered users. The federal government has "suddenly taken away the research, or the possibility to do additional research, to inform not only the physicians but patients about safety and efficacy," says Dr. Mark Ware, the sole researcher to receive MMRP funding. [continues 796 words]
