BMJ 2001;323:68 ( 14 July )

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Canada legalises the medical use of cannabis

From the end of this month, Canada will become the first country to allow the growth and use of marijuana for personal use by people with terminal illness and serious medical conditions.

Dr Judy Gomber, director general of the federal health department's office of controlled substances, announced the new federal regulations, emphasising that the government was not encouraging the use of cannabis and would not provide it. It is, however, making it available under certain conditions for people who have found that conventional treatments do not work and whose doctors have decided that its medical benefits outweigh its risks.

But the past president of the Canadian Medical Association, Hugh Scully, said that the association does not support the move and believes it is premature for the health department to expand broadly the medical use of marijuana "before there is adequate scientific support." He thinks that most doctors will be reluctant to participate in the process devised by the Canadian government.

David Spurgeon, Quebec

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Rapid Responses:

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It's about time!!

Mark Smith
bmj.com, 19 Jul 2001 [Full text]