A Pharmacy and Therapeutics Perspective on Medical Marijuana Use in the Canadian Health Care System

ABSTRACT In 2001, the Ontario Hospital Association invited hospitals to discuss whether individual facilities should allow the use of medical marijuana. This communication prompted the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre to discuss the issue at its monthly meeting in November 2001. The Committee outlined some of the uncertainties of marijuana use in the medical setting (e.g., efficacy, safety, distribution, quality, and legal status). Various associations of health care professionals have issued regulations and recommendations to their members and guidance regarding incorporation of these recommendations in the hospital setting. The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre decided not to allow the use of medical marijuana at its facility. The group recognized that marijuana use is a complex issue that continues to be debated at both national and international levels. The publication of original data and possible changes in guidelines and legislation may challenge the decisions rendered by hospitals in Ontario and the rest of Canada.  RESUME En 2001, l’Ontario Hospital Association a invite les hopitaux a debattre l’utilisation de la marijuana a des fins medicales dans les etablissements de sante. Cette communication a amene le Comite de pharmacologie et de therapeutique du Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre a discuter de cette question a sa reunion mensuelle en novembre 2001. Le Comite a emis des reserves quant au bien-fonde de l’utilisation de la marijuana dans le milieu des soins de sante (p. ex., aux plans de l’efficacite, de l’innocuite, de la distribution, de la qualite et des aspects legaux). Diverses associations de professionnels de la sante ont emis des normes et des recommandations a l’intention de leurs membres, ainsi que des lignes directrices sur l’application de ces recommandations dans les hopitaux. Le Comite de pharmacologie et de therapeutique du Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre a decide de ne pas permettre l’utilisation intra-muros de la marijuana a des fins medicales. Le Comite a reconnu que l’utilisation de la marijuana est un sujet complexe qui fait toujours l’objet de debats au niveau national et international. La publication de nouvelles donnees et les modifications possibles aux lignes directrices et aux lois pourraient remettre en question les decisions qu’ont prises les hopitaux en Ontario et dans le reste du Canada.