Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Stigma A Barrier To Medical Cannabis Research, Advocates Say At Roundtable

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Dec, 2015 12:47 PM
  • Stigma A Barrier To Medical Cannabis Research, Advocates Say At Roundtable
VANCOUVER — When Jonathan Zaid turned 18, his mom gave him an unusual birthday present — one that would turn out to be life-changing.
 
Zaid had been diagnosed at 14 with a pain syndrome that caused constant, daily headaches. He tried dozens of prescription medications and even had to drop out of school for two years.
 
Then his mother bought him a marijuana joint.
 
"I tried it and it helped a bit," he said. "But I really struggled with sources of access. Physicians were leery to give it to someone that young."
 
Zaid, now 22, is the founder and executive director of Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana. His group is among those attending a national roundtable on medical cannabis hosted by The Arthritis Society in Vancouver.
 
Medical marijuana has been available in Canada for over a decade, but there's a surprising lack of scientific research to guide doctors and patients, advocates say. The goal of the conference, which ends Friday, is to set research priorities.
 
The stigma attached to cannabis is one big reason for the absence of studies, Zaid said.
 
"I think that goes back to the research, where people just aren't necessarily familiar with medical cannabis and view it through the lens of that stoner-type image."
 
Arthritis Society chief mission officer Joanne Simons agreed that negative stereotypes have led to a lack of research, which in turn makes doctors wary of prescribing cannabis.
 
"Somebody who's 67 years old, to have a conversation with their kids about, 'I want to try medical cannabis,' there's stigma associated with that," she said.
 
"We really need to break that down, to really understand the root causes. People are living in pain. They don't have effective pain management. And this may be one area that could help them."
 
Jason McDougall, a pain researcher with Dalhousie University, said anecdotal evidence and laboratory studies have shown marijuana helps alleviate the pain and fatigue of arthritis.
 
But a lack of funding has hindered scientists interested in understanding cannabis and its effects on various diseases, he said.
 
"I think the federal government needs to give more funding to research in general, but in particular it would be nice to see more dollars coming towards cannabis research."
 
The former Conservative government often said that marijuana was not an approved drug and it did not condone its use. Advocates are hopeful that the new Liberal government push to legalize recreational pot will also change the landscape for medical cannabis, potentially freeing up more funding.
 
Health Canada, a participant in the conference, was unable to comment before deadline.
 
Zaid said cannabis isn't a "miracle drug," but it has helped ease his pain and helped him lead a full life, including studying at the University of Waterloo and becoming a patient advocate.
 
And his mom is proud.
 
"She's really happy that I'm doing well," he said. "That was the reason why she gave me that joint in the first place. So she's happy to see that it's launched me into this and allowed me to really live a good life."

MORE National ARTICLES

Housing Affordability In Calgary An Issue For Refugees Arriving In City: Naheed Nenshi

Housing Affordability In Calgary An Issue For Refugees Arriving In City: Naheed Nenshi
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says there are more than enough rental spaces for Syrian refugees arriving in the city, but help from the private sector is needed to make sure those units are affordable.

Housing Affordability In Calgary An Issue For Refugees Arriving In City: Naheed Nenshi

Nova Scotia Community Grieving After Teacher, Two Young Students Die In Highway 104 Car Crash

Nova Scotia Community Grieving After Teacher, Two Young Students Die In Highway 104 Car Crash
Ford Rice of the Port Hastings-based Strait Regional School Board says many people have been affected by the deaths of the 26-year-old woman and two girls, ages 12 and 13.

Nova Scotia Community Grieving After Teacher, Two Young Students Die In Highway 104 Car Crash

OPP Launches Mental Health Strategy To Help Officers And The Community

OPP Launches Mental Health Strategy To Help Officers And The Community
VAUGHAN, Ont. — Ontario Provincial Police have introduced a mental health strategy aimed at helping officers deal with their own mental health as well as those they deal with on the job.

OPP Launches Mental Health Strategy To Help Officers And The Community

Greg Boswell, Scottish Climber Lives To Tell Tale Of Attack By Grizzly In The Canadian Rockies

Greg Boswell, Scottish Climber Lives To Tell Tale Of Attack By Grizzly In The Canadian Rockies
TORONTO — A Scottish man says he's recovering after being attacked by a grizzly bear while climbing in the Rocky Mountains. On his Facebook page, Greg Boswell says he's "OK, just a little shook up and sore."

Greg Boswell, Scottish Climber Lives To Tell Tale Of Attack By Grizzly In The Canadian Rockies

Canadians Borrowing More, But Delinquency Rate Lowest In More Than Six Years

Canadians Borrowing More, But Delinquency Rate Lowest In More Than Six Years
OTTAWA — Canadians in oil-producing provinces are having a harder time paying their bills, even as the national delinquency rate improves to its lowest level in more than six years.

Canadians Borrowing More, But Delinquency Rate Lowest In More Than Six Years

Complaints For Wireless Down For First Time While Internet Issues Rise: Watchdog

Complaints For Wireless Down For First Time While Internet Issues Rise: Watchdog
TORONTO — Canadians had fewer official complaints about their wireless communication services but more concerns about their Internet plans, according to the latest report from the telecom industry's consumer watchdog.

Complaints For Wireless Down For First Time While Internet Issues Rise: Watchdog