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Canadian doctors brace themselves as cannabis becomes legal

David Spurgeon Quebec

Canada’s new regulations on the medical use of cannabis have drawn criticism from both its medical profession and current users.

The new regulations, which allow cannabis to be used by people with a terminal condition and serious medical illness, came into effect at the end of July and make Canada the first country to take such a step (14 July, p 68).

Peter Barrett, president of the Canadian Medical Association, said that most physicians were reluctant to participate in the government’s programme for the medical use of marijuana because they worry about recommending a drug that has not been subjected to rigorous testing and whose full side effects, interactions with other drugs and correct dosages are not known.

"We’re really unhappy," he said. "This is the first place in the world where this is being allowed to happen, and we’re the ones who have . . . [Full text of this article]

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