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.