SMOKING POLICY THWARTS VISITING MEDICAL POT USER

The Saskatoon Health Region's smoking policy was revised more than a
year ago, but recently a patient discovered the air isn't completely
clear on how to deal with authorized medical marijuana users in city hospitals.

Peter Christensen was brought to City Hospital by ambulance from
Vermilion, Alta., but the tests he needed weren't done because he
couldn't use his medical cannabis in the hospital.

Christensen, who lives in Marshall, says shortly after he was
admitted, a male nurse and a security guard approached him.

"He (the nurse) told me that we do not recognize medical marijuana
here. If you have medical marijuana with you, it will have to be
locked up in security. If you are in one of our ambulances, for
example going back to Vermilion, you will not have the marijuana
released to you until the ambulance leaves Saskatchewan."

Christensen was authorized to use marijuana in 2004 by Health Canada
to treat a movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. He uses
cannabis every six to eight hours.

Christensen asked to go back to Vermilion and was escorted outside by
the security guard to use the cannabis before hitting the road.

He noted his conversation with the staff was cordial, and "there was
no bad words," but he doesn't understand why the cannabis became an issue.

Jean Morrison, senior vice-president of health services for the
Saskatoon Health Region (SHR), said she can't comment on the specific
incident, but explained how medical marijuana should be dealt with.

Morrison, who is also the chief nursing officer, said once the SHR
confirms a person under its care has the proper approvals, "our
administration of that drug would be the same as the narcotics and
controlled drug standards and policies. It would also fall under our
smoking policy."

Paul Duchesne, Health Canada spokesperson, confirmed medical
marijuana is a federal policy, but "if you have an authorization and
you are in a place where there are smoking restrictions, you have to
follow those restrictions."

SHR's current policy says smoking is only permitted in designated
locations outside the building, but "rarely, the manager or designate
of an area/ward may create a special provision for a client with
special needs."

Morrison said medical marijuana would be a "special need," just as
sometimes sweetgrass is allowed under the clause.

She added, "we have 11,000 staff, we're not always in a position
where every staff will be completely aware and oriented to every policy."

Because the smoking policy does not specifically refer to medical
marijuana, Morrison said the SHR will be revising the rules to make
it clear for all employees.

The current exemptions expire on Jan. 1, 2006.

"The use of marijuana for medical purposes is a relatively new
phenomena. Even though it's been around for a few years we've only
had two incidents that we've dealt with. So in fact our staff haven't
had a lot of exposure to it," said Morrison.

"For sure more staff education needs to be done. "

She noted cannabis is supplied by authorized users, not by hospitals
or the health region.

Health Canada began authorizing people with specific medical
conditions in 2001. To date there are 858 authorized medical
marijuana users in the country. Twenty-one of them are in Saskatchewan.