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| Doctors Concerned as Pot Rules Take Effect |
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Posted by FoM on July 27, 2001 at 17:17:57 PT By The Canadian Press Source: Toronto Star 
Doctors are concerned about a flood of applications from patients - some using fake forms - when regulations on marijuana for medicinal use take effect Monday. Under the new law, severely ill patients with a doctor's approval can apply to Health Canada to grow and use the drug.The Alberta Medical Association told doctors in that province Friday to ''think twice'' about filling out forms for patients. Dr. Clayne Steed, AMA president, also warned physicians to be extra wary of fake forms after one physician was asked to fill out a form from the Grant W. Krieger Cannabis Research Foundation. Calgary-based Krieger, 46, who has multiple sclerosis, has been fighting for more than five years to have the drug legalized for medicinal use. In April, the federal government announced that people suffering from severe forms of arthritis will be given the right to possess and smoke marijuana legally if they can prove they can't be treated with other drugs to alleviate relentless pain. The regulations also allow terminally ill people as well as those with AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal-cord injuries, epilepsy and other serious conditions to use the drug if it eases their symptoms. The measures also allow the government to license third parties to grow marijuana for individuals who can't grow it for themselves. To date, 292 people have been granted exemptions from current law, which makes it a criminal offence to grow and use marijuana. The Canadian Medical Association has raised strong objections to the new regulations, which they say ignore normal protocols of rigorous pre-market testing, putting patients and physicians in a precarious position. The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, representing doctors specializing in addiction treatment, argues ''there is more risk than benefit'' and is calling for more clinical research. ''Unfortunately the government has decided to go ahead to appease a few lobby groups,'' said Dr. Raju Hajela, past-president. Canada is the first country to adopt such a system using marijuana as medicine, after an Ontario judge ordered the government to clarify its rules within one year. The regulations are a result of that order. ''The courts can't be deciding how doctors should be practising medicine, because that's what is essentially happening here,'' said Hajela, an assistant professor at Queens University in Kingston. Health Canada says it shares doctors' concerns and plans to release a manual for physicians to coincide with the regulations taking effect. ''We will continue to monitor the implementation of this legislation,'' said Roslyn Tremblay, a spokeswoman for Health Canada. Clinical trials are also under way in Toronto and Montreal, she said. The new rules create three categories of people who can possess the drug: the terminally ill with a prognosis of death within one year; those with symptoms associated with specific serious medical conditions; and those with other medical conditions who have statements from two doctors saying conventional treatments have not worked. Tim McClermont, executive director of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada, said the process frustrates patients who find the system too bureaucratic. Health Canada requires so many different types of documentation, patients have to keep going back to their physician, McClermont said. ''The doctors are getting angry and getting fed up with it . . . so often they tell the patient, `I don't want be involved with this, it's too much of a hassle','' he said. ''It's discouraging for everybody. . . . people will just give up and not pursue it.'' Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Related Articles & Web Sites: Health Canada Grant W. Krieger Cannabis Research Canadian Links Ottawa Funding Study Researcher Tests Benefits CannabisNews Articles - Canada Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #8 posted by primal1 on March 11, 2002 at 08:35:55 PT |
| Planned Europe-wide ban on vitamin therapiesDear Advisers,Europe is once again standing at the crossroads. On 12th March the European Parliament decides whether the people of Europe will continue to have unrestricted access to side-effect free natural therapies or whether the pharmaceutical lobby will succeed in reducing the European Parliament to the role of the pharmaceutical cartel's Strasbourg puppet show.Never before in history has there been such an intense struggle over the right of the European people to natural, effective and side-effect free health care. To date over 400 million (!) e-mails have been sent to EU politicians demanding this right and rejecting the unscrupulous EU Directive providing for a Europe-wide ban on vitamin therapies and whole groups of natural substances, for example natural amino acids.Only by being aware of the background facts can we understand the aggression with which the pharmaceutical lobby and its political marionettes are acting. How, otherwise, can we explain - that there are still MEPs, particularly those from the pharmaceutical republic of Germany, who are ignoring the 400 million no votes against this Europe-wide muzzling law. - that there are still EU politicians who believe in the pharmaceutical lobby fairy tale of consumer protection from vitamins and other natural substances, whereas every child now knows that no-one has ever died from taking vitamins, whereas every year hundreds of thousands of people die from the lethal side effects of pharmaceutical drugs (remember Lipobay?) - that the planned EU Directive would ban precisely those natural substances which have now proved vital to the breakthrough in the natural fight against cancer: optimum doses of vitamin therapies in conjunction with natural amino acids such as lysine and proline. These are now to be outlawed under this unscrupulous EU Directive because they threaten a billion-pound market in chemotherapy and other hazardous anti-cancer drugs. - that the newly-erupting EU corruption scandal has now revealed that the pharmaceutical lobby has managed to infiltrate a member of the supervisory board of the second-largest pharmaceutical company in the world, in the person of EU commissar Bolkenstein, into the 'cabinet of Europe' , without this man ever having been elected by anyone.Are you really surprised that the debate about EU corruption seems never-ending, given that the unelected and anonymous pharmaceutical cartel is sitting in the highest political body in Europe and is now issuing its own laws from there?In view of these alarming facts, the eyes of millions of Europeans have turned to Strasbourg, where the European Parliament votes on the EU Directive for the banning of natural therapies on 12th March. EU politicians have the following choice: either to send out a message against corruption of the EU by the pharmaceutical lobby by rejecting this directive, or to vote for it, and in so doing reduce the entire European Parliament in the eyes of the world to a Strasbourg puppet show run by the pharmaceutical cartel. Worse still, any such decision would endanger the health and lives of millions of Europeans.On 12th March every European politician present will be taking the most important decision of his or her life - and they will have to take responsibility for it.What you should do before the vote on 12th March: - Phone the MEPs from your region, either in their UK or Brussels office and insist on speaking to the MEP personally. As a voter you have that right. Speak up for yourself! - Demand a clear no vote from the MEP on the EU Directive on Dietary Supplements on 12th March. No MEP has the right to ignore 400 million votes. - Tell the MEPs that if they do not vote against this muzzling law, the debate on EU corruption will grow still louder, because one group and one group alone will profit from the outlawing of natural therapies: the pharmaceutical industry. - Point out that the consumer protection argument used by the pharmaceutical lobby to attempt to force this directive through the European Parliament is ridiculous in face of the facts: no person has ever died from taking vitamins, whereas the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs have become the fourth -most common cause of death. - Say that it is unacceptable for laws affecting the health of all the people of Europe to be made by a commission for which no-one has voted. Make it clear that it is unacceptable, that members of the supervisory boards of pharmaceutical companies are sitting on the European Commission (e.g., EU commissar Bolkenstein) from where they are writing Europe's laws in the interest of pharmaceutical companies and other economic interest groups. Say to them: that's corruption! - Ask them: who voted you into the European Parliament? As EU politicians, was it the voters, the people of Europe to whom you are answerable or the big multinationals? - Insist that the MEPs allow a voice for the greatest peoples' movement in Europe and the 400 million votes for natural health on 12th March. Demand that Dr. Rath is not muzzled but is allowed, on behalf of humanity, to speak in the European Parliament and officially inform the MEPs. - Vote for the right to free access to natural therapies in Europe. For more information go to the website www.petition450.org. There you can cast your vote by clicking a mouse and send your protest to all the responsible politicians. Vote before March 12th. - Speak to friends and acquaintances about the breakthrough by vitamin research and cellular medicine in the fight against cancer. For the first time it is possible to combat the causes of cancer by natural means and with no side effects. For further information go to http://www.stopping-cancer-naturally.org. Also draw their attention to Dr. Rath's lecture series at the end of March (see box below). - Tell your acquaintances about the connection between the progress of vitamin research and the pharmaceutical industry's machinations to outlaw this information via new muzzling laws, simply in order to protect their billion-pound markets in pharmaceutical drugs.12th March 2002 is an important date for the people of Europe. Do your bit to see that the decisions made in the European Parliament on that day serve our health interests rather than the pharmaceutical industry trade in disease. Do it now.Best wishesDr. Matthias Rath [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #7 posted by primal on January 19, 2002 at 19:11:14 PT:
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| I'm sorry but HC has shown no leadership at all in holistic and natural remedies, I think they should continue to manage pharmaceutcals and a new government office of regulations should be formed for naturals. Doctors don't know the first thing about naturals, It is a science unto itself. There are specialist in holistic and natural remedies, with certification that are better qualified to make these calls. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by Gene on July 28, 2001 at 21:05:56 PT:
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| Firstly I believe you sign a consent form, not taking legal action against any Doctor, you still can be charged under the influance etc.so don't do anything to cause this charge. Smoking this in a discretionary place is a good thing. Your not allowed to let anyone else smoke this. It must be stored properly, ? I am sorry I do not know of hand any people yet who have this exemption yet with arthritis, there must be some, it's coming. My only suggestion would be to contact an arthris group for info on how to become involved in such a study. The goverment is now growing by contract I believe marijuana in Manitoba for medical purposes to be used in January 02 for pain purposes, and applications. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by Gene on July 28, 2001 at 17:02:08 PT:
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| Hi all, I will try to give you some idea, how this works for myself. Yes I have permission to grow marijuana as of July 31st 01 for 6 months, everyone in Canada I believe who has this exemption already, their permitts will expire July 30th 01 As of 31 01 we will all be on the same time table for permitts and expiry dates. If you when you are filling this forms out, and agree to let Health Canada forward the proof of the exemption to the police, when checked by them they will know yes you have the exemption, they will not know why for what medical reason. It would help you, alot less static for yourself, and a lot less paper work, No you don't have to agree to this as I understand, only if you want to. 7 plants are allowed, the marijuana you can have on your person is 30 grams I believe, at home with all of your crop in stored securly some where around 210 grams, no plants should be growing at this time, or parts there of. Example, you harvested 5 plants, you ended up with 150 grams. 2 plants could be still growing, not harvested yet. At this time don't plant any more. Health Canada, will inspect your location, Common Sense Applies. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by nannette debruyn on July 28, 2001 at 15:33:49 PT:
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| where does one go to find a dr that issues a rx for weed?hmo dr's say they are legally bound not to write any rx's for weed by the hmo no mater what the status is on the patient. my arithits i have had for 46 years, two years with lupus and diagnosed with osteoarithits two months ago. the pain is disabling, and darvacet in the pain med of choice since i am allgeric to everything else thr dr's have prescribed for me in the last fourty years. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by dddd on July 28, 2001 at 06:52:58 PT |
| there's gonna be a heavy quake in SoCal real soon...dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by The Offspring on July 28, 2001 at 05:45:53 PT |
| The new regulations Health Canada put in place does not and will not meet the Courts request. If you want to know more you should got to www.marijuananews.com According to an article on the web site, Marijuana laws in Ontario could be ruled invalid. Wouldn't that be something. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by dddd on July 28, 2001 at 02:14:42 PT |
| ,,,all of a sudden,,alot of doctors will be in the akward position of approving people to grow and possess Marijuana. ..which is sorta strange in one way,,in that it puts pot in the twilight zone of being a plant from the good earth,yet you must have a doctors approval to legally use or grow it....It's gotta be the first time a non-pharmaceutical plant could only be approved for use with some sort of prescription from a doctor.....,,,,and then ..of course the next question is;;;does this "prescription" run out after a certain length of time???Will the doctors be able to make it so one must return every few months to have their prescription renewed?,,,,,,,,and eventually,some idiot will try to sue a doctor for malpractice,,saying that the prescribed weed damaged their health or something...
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