Research Database Managed by MUHC Research Team Will Represent
One of the Largest-Ever Studies on Medical Marijuana
TORONTO and SMITHS FALLS, ON, May 11, 2015 /CNW/ - Three leading licensed medicinal cannabis producers, Bedrocan Canada Inc. (TSXV: BED), Mettrum Health Corp. (TSXV: MT), and Tweed Marijuana Inc. (TSXV: TWD) have announced that they, along with the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ), will contribute startup funding for the creation of a registry for medical cannabis patients in the Province of Quebec. The industry partners and the CMQ will provide funding to the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC), and the CCIC will provide a grant to the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), to support the first year of the registry's operations. The registry is a research project led by Dr. Mark Ware, a pain specialist and clinical researcher at the RI-MUHC.
The Quebec Cannabis Registry is being launched in response to a call by the CMQ for guidelines on the use of medical cannabis, and will compile clinical data collected directly from patients who use medical cannabis. It will gather information on the demographic profiles of patients who use medical cannabis, the medical purpose for which they use it, and at what dosage. The registry will also track the effectiveness and safety of cannabis used in the management of symptoms associated with particular health conditions. The anticipated 10-year term of this project will result in one of the world's largest research databases on the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Canada's national medical cannabis system, governed by the federal Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, has established an environment in which industry, academia and the medical community can collaborate to enhance the understanding of a widely-used, but understudied substance.
"The Quebec registry will offer an extremely valuable resource on real-world use of medicinal cannabis to physicians not only in Quebec, but also across Canada and around the world," said Marc Wayne, President and CEO of Bedrocan Canada. "It is an innovative approach to aggregating the information health professionals need, while ensuring protection of patient privacy through anonymized data and a secure electronic database housed at the McConnell Centre for Innovative Medicine of the RI-MUHC at the Glen site.
"The registry gives every physician in the Province of Quebec the ability to prescribe medical cannabis, within a structured program, to assess the risks and benefits of cannabis for their patients," said Michael Haines, CEO of Mettrum. "This program has the potential to be the largest study of medical cannabis ever performed. We believe this will provide physicians with valuable insights, and help inform the evolution of clinical guidelines for an increasing population of patients who are authorized to use medical cannabis."
"This initiative will ultimately allow a greater number of patients to access cannabis for medical purposes. Whether these patients require cannabis to substitute for other treatment options, or to treat symptoms that couldn't be effectively managed by traditional pharmaceuticals, this will be the end of a long waiting period for many Quebecers," said Bruce Linton, Chairman and CEO of Tweed. "We are proud to provide support to this project, because it will gather valuable data regarding safety and potential efficacy, enhancing the level of confidence healthcare practitioners need to recommend this treatment option to appropriate patients."
About Bedrocan, Mettrum and Tweed
Bedrocan, Mettrum and Tweed are leaders among Canada's licensed medicinal cannabis producers. The three companies are committed to quality production practices, patient safety, product innovation, clinical research and regulatory compliance. Bedrocan Cannabis Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BED"; Mettrum Health Corp. under the symbol "MT"; and Tweed Marijuana Inc. under the symbol "TWD".
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Tweed Marijuana Inc.
Image with caption: "Bedrocan, Mettrum and Tweed are leaders among Canada’s licensed medicinal cannabis producers. (CNW Group/Tweed Marijuana Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150511_C7552_PHOTO_EN_16464.jpg
Cam Battley, Bedrocan Cannabis Corp., [email protected], +1.905.864.5525, www.bedrocan.ca; Keelan Green for Mettrum Ltd., [email protected], +1.613.220.2016, www.mettrum.com; Jordan Sinclair, Tweed Marijuana Inc., [email protected], +1.613.769.4196, www.tweed.com
Share this article