It recently became a lot easier to obtain medical marijuana.
Thanks to the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR), which came into effect in April, patients can access medical marijuana without the lengthy paperwork or Health Canada approval that came with the former system. Essentially, it allows physicians to prescribe medical marijuana to any patient who they think would benefit.
Now, stoners, don’t all go running to your doctors.
Despite the changing regulations, some physicians remain hesitant to prescribe pot. That’s why some doctors are opening specialized cannabis clinics to meet the growing demand. Toronto’s first therapeutic medical marijuana clinic opened at the end of June on the Danforth (121 Danforth Avenue). It marks the first of many Medical Marijuana Clinics of Canada locations set to open across the country.
Of course, the goal is to treat and follow patients who suffer from chronic illnesses and wish to consider medical marijuana as a treatment option… and you need to come armed with documentation of that medical condition.
Here’s all you need to know about the medical marijuana situation in Canada:
The Medical Benefits:
According to Health Canada, evidence suggests that medical marijuana may be useful in therapeutic situations involving palliative care, chronic pain, nausea and vomiting, wasting syndrome and loss of appetite, anorexia nervosa, multiple sclerosis, ALS, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, arthritis (RA or OA), glaucoma, insomnia, anxiety and depression, inflammatory bowel disease and others.
How it works:
The two main components of marijuana are: Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). THC produces the psychoactive effects of marijuana. It also has analgesic, anti-nausea, appetite stimulant and anti-spastic effects. CBD doesn’t produce psychoactive effects, but has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-epileptic and anti-psychotic properties. The active ingredients in cannabis act on specific targets in the body, known as cannabinoid receptors. They’re located throughout the body and involve the regulation of many functions, including brain and nervous system activity, heart rate and blood pressure, digestion, inflammation, immune system activity, perception of pain, reproduction, wake-sleep cycle, regulation of stress and emotional state, as well as many other functions.
We caught up with Dr. Ryan Yermus, MD, a Toronto-based young professional (YP) who is the founder of Medical Marijuana Clinics of Canada.
What’s been the response to the Toronto medical marijuana clinic so far and when will you open other clinics?
The response to our Danforth clinic has been overwhelmingly positive. Neighbours have stopped in to say hello and patients have been very happy to have a place where they can access their medicine without the fear of being judged. We haven’t yet made a decision where our second clinic is going to be located, but we hope to sort this out in the near future.
What’s the main effect of marijuana for people living with disease? Does your clinic specialize in anything in particular?
Medical marijuana can be used to help alleviate the symptoms of various chronic illnesses. Our treatments include cancer and chemotherapy induced symptoms, HIV, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders and chronic pain, among others. Medical marijuana is not used to cure diseases; we are simply trying to help patients with chronic illnesses improve the quality of their lives by minimizing their symptoms.
What is the biggest misconception about medical marijuana?
A big misconception is that medical marijuana needs to be smoked. We never recommend that patients smoke anything. Vaporization and cooking represent two safer ways of using medical marijuana.
What would people be most surprised to learn about it?
Medical marijuana is available in many different strains and one strain can have very different effects from another. We are working on developing evidence that could connect certain strains to the treatment of certain symptoms.
How exactly have the regulations changed recently? Do you think it’s possible that people may abuse their access to marijuana?
Under the new regulations, there is no such thing as a license, like there was before. Under this system, patients are given a prescription (termed “medical document” in the regulations) by physicians and they use this prescription to register themselves with Health Canada licensed marijuana producers. The producers will ship the medical marijuana directly to the patient. While it is possible that some patients may abuse their access to medical marijuana, we utilize comprehensive medical assessments and proper follow-up in order to minimize that risk.
Is the clinic fully stocked with marijuana?
We don’t handle the actual medical marijuana at the clinic. The patient orders the medicine from licensed producers, who will ship it to their homes. We simplify the process for our patients.
Have you always been a believer/supporter of the health benefits of medical marijuana?
I strongly believe that patients should have the right to advocate for the treatment option of their choice. It is patients who have pushed medical marijuana to the forefront. Medicine has traditionally involved one flow of knowledge, where the doctor would choose the treatment and the patient would adhere to it. Today, people have much greater access to information and patients often want to play a more active role in their own health. One example of this can be seen in the medical marijuana movement where patients are often the ones suggesting the idea to their physicians, who have varying levels of receptiveness to it.
The medical visits are covered by OHIP but if the pot is prescribed, patients will have to pay a $200 yearly fee for a physician monitoring system that offers patient support and ensures that there are no side effects.
#NOTABLE
Images: globalgenes.org,midasletter.com,oplawblog.blogspot.com
Want more updates on the most Notable things happening so you know before your colleagues do? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Twitter for all the latest.