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Canada should continue with separate medical stream after cannabis is legalized for recreational use: Study

Date:
July 17, 2017
Source:
Canadian Medical Association Journal
Summary:
After cannabis is legalized, Canada should continue with a separate medical cannabis stream to keep patients safe, argues a new commentary.
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After cannabis is legalized, Canada should continue with a separate medical cannabis stream to keep patients safe, argues a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

The Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, appointed by the federal government, has also recommended this two-streamed structure.

"Recreational cannabis and cannabinoid-based drugs (including medical cannabis) are not equivalent," say Elizabeth Cairns and Dr. Melanie Kelly, Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. "Without a program that supports medical use, patients may lose access to treatments that the Federal Court of Canada has deemed appropriate, which fosters safe and appropriate use."

More research into the effects of medical cannabis and cannabinoids is needed, but evidence does exist for use with some health conditions.

The authors suggest that a medical stream for cannabis and cannabinoids would reduce risk to patients, provide incentives for research into the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids, and provide educational resources for health care practitioners on the latest advances in cannabinoid research.

"Having a separate medical stream does not mean an endorsement of cannabinoid-based therapeutics as a "cure-all." It is about providing the infrastructure to make informed choices for the patient and health care practitioner, and prioritizing a path to more concrete answers."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Elizabeth A. Cairns, Melanie E.M. Kelly. Why support a separate medical access framework for cannabis? Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2017; 189 (28): E927 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.170427

Cite This Page:

Canadian Medical Association Journal. "Canada should continue with separate medical stream after cannabis is legalized for recreational use: Study." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 July 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170717091040.htm>.
Canadian Medical Association Journal. (2017, July 17). Canada should continue with separate medical stream after cannabis is legalized for recreational use: Study. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170717091040.htm
Canadian Medical Association Journal. "Canada should continue with separate medical stream after cannabis is legalized for recreational use: Study." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170717091040.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

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