Access to medicinal cannabis an issue for both patients and suppliers – Stuff.co.nz

OPINION: I was lucky enough to spend a few days in the South Island last week, ferrying an old car from Timaru to Wellington.

As well as being able to enjoy some of the South Islands God-given macadam in a 40-year-old GT car, it gave me the chance to pop in on some old mates. One of these was Dion, an old family friend who lives in a retirement village outside Christchurch.

Dion led an active life, spending 50 years farming in Canterbury and the high country. Hes a good horseman and even better fisherman, which is what he did for the next 20 years.

From the salmon of the Rakaia to the monster trout of Benmore and whitebait runs in Haast, he outlived two wives and ended up having to move to a retirement village a couple of years ago aged 88 and suffering from spinal pain and arthritis as result of his physical life.

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But what he really found tough was losing his independence. He made a poor invalid. This resulted in him suffering panic attacks and hypertension. With the help of some professionals he tried a variety of antipsychotic drugs to level up with. But the side effects were tough and they didnt seem to work.

Earlier this year he suffered a panic attack while being visited by a couple of younger friends. One of them took cannabidoil (CBD) to help her sleep, and offered Dion an eyedropper of the olive-oil like compound.

Unsplash

Doctors are still very cautious about prescribing CBD oil.

While Dion had always enjoyed Speights and the odd bottle of Highland Park, hed never tried cannabis (in any form) in his life. But he thought what the hell and put the dropper full under his tongue.

Within minutes he started to calm down and got his breathing under control. He reckons it was like the scary fog parting and the sunlight coming through.

Dion then set about getting himself a supply of CBD oil. The rest home was circumspect and uniformed. So, he went to his doctor. She was also cautious, having never prescribed any before.

She was in good company. According to the New Zealand Medical Journal, 79 per cent of GPs in New Zealand have concerns about prescribing medical cannabis. And its not surprising.

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF/Waikato Times

Medicinal cannabis plants growing in a high-security facility.

Doctors have had little solid research on the benefits of CBD oil (or tinctures or creams) and have a legal and ethical obligation to do no harm.

Dion then spoke to the local chemist. He was surprised to find the chemist was happy to supply it, having found an approved supplier soon after the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme came into effect in April last year.

An old hippy neighbour at the rest home told Dion she could hook him up with the local green fairy, but that sounded dodgy. And Dion is not a dodgy man.

He ended up finding a Wellington doctor who was among the 21 per cent of doctors who are happy to provide medicinal cannabis to patients, and specifically felt CBD oil could help Dion and not react negatively with the other medication he was on.

Kevin Stent/Stuff

Mike O'Donnell: According to the New Zealand Medical Journal, 79 per cent of GPs in New Zealand have concerns about prescribing medical cannabis.

A Zoom consultation then resulted in the CBD doctor writing to Dions doctor and the rest home supporting an initial 25 millilitre bottle. And finally, Dion got his bottle of dope.

The great news is that he reckons its working and with no side effects. The bad news is that this process took the best part of three months.

Thats bad for patients and its bad for a fledgling local industry where 40-odd companies are trying to get off the ground.

So, if you or someone you know reckons CBD oil could help with pain management, mental health or insomnia, whats the best approach? From what Ive been able to find out, there are four basic steps.

First do your research. Find some solid proof that CBD (in some format) has been found to address the symptoms or the cause of the ailment. Likewise, talk to local pharmacies to confirm that they have access to the products.

Local medicinal cannabis company Ora Pharm provides an online portal which is useful to help reach evidence-based decisions around using medicinal cannabis. Theres also a pretty handy app for integrating CBD oil into your broader healthcare.

Second, email your GP with the finding of your research and your wish to trial the medication. Note the fact that for a year now medicinal cannabis in the form of CBD has been able to be prescribed for medical conditions. Make clear that you are not after products containing THC.

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Third, book yourself an appointment with that GP to make your case. Probably a double appointment so that the discussion isnt rushed. All going well, they will agree to a small trial so see how it goes.

If your GP is unconvinced that its in your best interests, then find yourself another GP. Currently there is no website that I can find that does this for you, so you will need to do a bit of searching online or chat to the Medicinal Cannabis Council.

Hes no dope head, but dear old Dion reckons the stuff works. And hes not the only one.

Now the system just needs to normalise to ensure patients receive the benefits and the fledgling local industry can go ahead and flourish.

Mike MOD ODonnell is a professional director, writer and facilitator. His Twitter handle is @modsta and he also prefers Highland Park to Hooter.

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Access to medicinal cannabis an issue for both patients and suppliers - Stuff.co.nz