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Canada - New College of Physicians and Surgeons rules say Saskatchewan doctors must keep a record of who they prescribe marijuana to, and how much. The college's council voted Friday to pass a new bylaw meant to steer Saskatchewan doctors clear of conflicts of interest, and prevent the potential for specific physicians to become Dr. Marijuana. "We didn't want to see one doctor prescribing marijuana for 30,000 patients in Saskatchewan," college president Dr. Mark Chapelski told the council.
As of last month, Health Canada has removed itself from the business of approving applications for medicinal marijuana. Who gets cannabis for medical conditions is now up to Canadian doctors. It was a move many doctors' organizations opposed. Health Canada has now switched its focus to regulating producers and suppliers of marijuana. At last count, more than 22,000 Canadians were authorized to use marijuana for medical reasons.
In September, college lawyer Bryan Salte recommended the college's council develop a policy to prevent potentially unscrupulous professionals from taking advantage of the new regulations. When the bylaw takes effect, doctors must keep a record of marijuana prescriptions, which they'll turn over to the college once a year - or once every six months if more than 20 patients are on their list. Doctors must also draw up a written agreement describing what the drug is to be used for, how much should be used, and for how long. A similar recommendation is in place for the prescription of opiates like oxycodone.
Furthermore, the doctor who prescribes marijuana must also be treating the patient for the condition the medicinal marijuana is meant to aid. These steps should hopefully prevent anyone from becoming "Doctor Feelgood," setting up a practice purely to prescribe marijuana, Salte said. No doctor can both prescribe and sell medicinal marijuana, the new rules say - physicians will have to choose one or the other. Doctors who prescribe the drug are also forbidden from investing in companies that produce medicinal marijuana, and cannot be an employee or a board member for a licensed producer. The college has already said doctors are not required to prescribe marijuana if they're not certain of its benefits or risks. The province's health minister has 90 days to veto the new college bylaws.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Laderpost.com
Author: Janet French
Contact: Contact Us - Regina Leader Post
Website: Doctors Must Keep Track Of Pot
As of last month, Health Canada has removed itself from the business of approving applications for medicinal marijuana. Who gets cannabis for medical conditions is now up to Canadian doctors. It was a move many doctors' organizations opposed. Health Canada has now switched its focus to regulating producers and suppliers of marijuana. At last count, more than 22,000 Canadians were authorized to use marijuana for medical reasons.
In September, college lawyer Bryan Salte recommended the college's council develop a policy to prevent potentially unscrupulous professionals from taking advantage of the new regulations. When the bylaw takes effect, doctors must keep a record of marijuana prescriptions, which they'll turn over to the college once a year - or once every six months if more than 20 patients are on their list. Doctors must also draw up a written agreement describing what the drug is to be used for, how much should be used, and for how long. A similar recommendation is in place for the prescription of opiates like oxycodone.
Furthermore, the doctor who prescribes marijuana must also be treating the patient for the condition the medicinal marijuana is meant to aid. These steps should hopefully prevent anyone from becoming "Doctor Feelgood," setting up a practice purely to prescribe marijuana, Salte said. No doctor can both prescribe and sell medicinal marijuana, the new rules say - physicians will have to choose one or the other. Doctors who prescribe the drug are also forbidden from investing in companies that produce medicinal marijuana, and cannot be an employee or a board member for a licensed producer. The college has already said doctors are not required to prescribe marijuana if they're not certain of its benefits or risks. The province's health minister has 90 days to veto the new college bylaws.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Laderpost.com
Author: Janet French
Contact: Contact Us - Regina Leader Post
Website: Doctors Must Keep Track Of Pot
