OTTAWA, September 27, 2006 – The Conservative government’s funding cuts to the Medical Marijuana Research Program are putting much needed research in jeopardy.

"The government does not need to 'tell professional researchers what to study,' but the government has a responsibility to ensure that this critical research happens,” says Monique Doolittle-Romas, Executive Director of CAS. "The research program was initially developed with advice from the expert advisory committee on new active substances, an external body of scientific and medical experts who recognized the need for scientific evidence in this area."

One million Canadians report that they use marijuana for medicinal purposes for conditions such as HIV/AIDS, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, and many others. Only about 1400 seriously ill Canadians are currently legally authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes in Canada.

"This funding cut is a double-edged sword," says Doolittle-Romas. "Physicians often refer to a lack of scientific evidence as a reason not to support their patient’s application to the federal medical marijuana program. Without sufficient funding to produce the research doctors require, the government is creating barriers to access for those who opt to use cannabis for medical purposes."

The Canadian AIDS Society has identified the need for research on medical marijuana and proposes research priorities identified in an extensive consultation report released last June, www.cdnaids.ca/cannabis.

For example, one area requiring additional research is the assessment of alternatives to smoking cannabis. Vaporization which provides the same advantages as smoking, such as a quick effect and an easy way to control the dose but does not expose the person to the potentially harmful by-products found in smoke, may be one such alternative.

Cutting research funding further delays the required evidence to move forward on this issue, as well as the dissemination of adequate medical information to both the people who use and recommend cannabis for medical purposes.

About the Canadian AIDS Society
The Canadian AIDS Society is a national coalition of over 125 community-based AIDS organizations from across Canada. Dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, we also work to enrich the lives of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS.


For more information, please contact:

Holly Wagg
Director of Marketing and Communications
Canadian AIDS Society
Tel: 613.230.3580 (125)
Cell: 613.875.3580
E-mail: hollyw@cdnaids.ca