Two doctors with opposing views on medical marijuana agree on one thing: their profession is uncomfortable when it comes to prescribing patients a drug that lacks adequate research.
The doctors will participate in a debate on Tuesday -- the day before Canada legalizes recreational cannabis --as part of a live streamed event hosted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Doctor Mark Ware, who practises pain medicine in Montreal, will be arguing for the use of medical cannabis for conditions such as neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Doctor Mel Kahan medical director of the Substance Use Services at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, believes the overall evidence for medical marijuana is ``incredibly weak,'' except mostly for chronic pain.
Ware, who has taken a leave from his job to work as chief medical officer for medical marijuana company Canopy Growth, says he feels for doctors who don't have enough information on a drug that's been stigmatized but medical schools should be teaching even the basics of cannabis for therapeutic use.
Over 330 thousand Canadians are registered with Health Canada-approved licensed producers as users of medical marijuana.