reports from council
tic goals or the risks outweigh
the benefits.
The new policy is on page 27.
An article about the policy is
on page 21.
Fee for Modifying Terms
and Conditions
Marijuana for Medical Purposes
Policy Approved
Council has approved a policy that sets out
expectations for those physicians who prescribe
dried marijuana for medical purposes.
The Marijuana for Medical Purposes
policy was developed in light of federal
regulations that significantly alter the legislative framework governing patient access to
dried marijuana. Under these regulations,
physicians have primary responsibility for
the decision to authorize patient use of dried
marijuana for medical purposes. Physicians
enable patients to access a legal supply of
dried marijuana by completing a medical
document that functions like a conventional
prescription.
In response to consultation feedback,
several revisions were made to the policy.
These include: adding references to provide physicians with the most current and
reliable information on the medical use
of dried marijuana; explicitly stating that
physicians are not obligated to prescribe
dried marijuana if they do not believe it is
clinically appropriate for their patient; adding expectations for physicians who wish to
prescribe dried marijuana to patients under
the age of 25; and stating that physicians
must discontinue prescribing if dried marijuana fails to meet the physician’s therapeu-
16
Council has approved a by-law
that will see members pay a fee
when they apply to modify the
terms, conditions or limitations
of their certificate of registration
imposed as a result of a registration proceeding.
A fee totaling 50% of the application fee
will be charged to a member requesting such
a change. This fee is equivalent to 25% of
the annual membership fee. In 2015, the fee
would be $392.50.
The College has not previously charged
members for an application to modify the
terms, conditions or limitations of a certificate of registration. However, due to
the increasing volume of requests and the
amount of time involved in processing such
requests, the Registration Committee recommended this fee. In 2013, the Registration
Committee reviewed more than 450 requests
from physicians for amendments to their
certificates of registration. This is almost
double 2012’s annual total of 276 amendments. The time taken to prepare and review
amendment requests is approximately 66%
of the time that is involved in reviewing and
processing a new application for a certificate
of registration.
External Activity of Interest
to the College
Council was updated on the status of four
different reviews which have re