CMPA position

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 52, No. 9, November 2010, Page 436 Letters

When we asked for the Canadian Medical Protective Association’s position on the topic of prescribing marijuana, Luce Lavoie, the director of communications at the CMPA, directed us to their statement entitled, “Marijuana for medical reasons: The Medical Declaration form,” originally published October 2001, revised September 2009. Here is the introduction:

“Marijuana is not approved for use as a drug in Canada. Health Canada states that “no marijuana product has been issued a notice of compliance” and notes that indications, safety and risks have not been adequately studied and the appropriate dosage is unclear. 

“Many regulatory authorities (Colleges) have considered these facts. Some have stated clearly that physicians should not support an application for the medical use of marijuana, while others have chosen to simply remind their members of the importance of evidence-based medicine and the lack of evidence about the benefits and risks of this substance. 

“However, patients who believe that marijuana is effective for treating certain symptoms from which they suffer can apply to Health Canada for authorization to possess and use marijuana under the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations (the Regulations). 

Those Regulations require the applicant (patient) to submit two declarations, one of which is the applicant’s and the other a Medical Declaration signed by the applicant’s medical practitioner.”

The full statement is available at www.cmpaacpm.ca/cmpapd04/docs/resource_files/infosheets/2009/com_is09103-e.cfm.                            
—ED

. CMPA position. BCMJ, Vol. 52, No. 9, November, 2010, Page(s) 436 - Letters.


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Halpern SD, Ubel PA, Caplan AL, Marion DW, Palmer AM, Schiding JK, et al. Solid-organ transplantation in HIV-infected patients. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:284-7.

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