Doctors’ group uninformed on pot

The Alberta College of Family Physicians, a body dedicated to providing continuing medical educational opportunities for its members, last week took upon itself to issue advisories essentially condemning the use of cannabis as a medicine.

The organization, which is not the regulating body for Alberta’s physicians and therefore not a “college” in the accepted sense, says adverse events are common.

Ironically, these advisories came out just as a World Health Organization report was released, recognizing that a major component of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) “shows that its use could have some therapeutic value for seizures due to epilepsy and related conditions.”

The report adds that CBD shows little evidence of risk of abuse or dependence and there is no reason to keep it a scheduled drug.

The ACFP’s attitude demonstrates a lack of professional interest and education about a very complex plant that consists of more than 60 cannabinoids or molecules that interact with the body’s own endocannabinoid system. This seems at odds with the very mandate of the organization.

Cannabis is not appropriate for all patients, nor is it a cure-all. Yet, there is a vast array of empirical evidence for its use for a variety of conditions.

Terry Lake, v.p., corporate social responsibility, Hydropothecary Corporation