Although physicians in Canada have been prescribing medical cannabis since 2001, the recent national legalization of the plant has made it a hot topic in the medical community.
Interestingly, it’s not just the general public that has begun to increase use of this healing plant, but more and more physicians across the country are recommending medical cannabis for their patients.
Every year since 2014, medical cannabis use in Canada has tripled. Alberta currently uses the most medical cannabis than any other province, with approximately 1.7% of the population filling prescriptions.
But a question now begs to be asked: with a variety of cannabis products readily available to the Canadian public, what role do physicians and healthcare professionals play when it comes down to their patients’ cannabis use?
- The history of medical cannabis in Canada
- Recreational Cannabis vs. Medical Cannabis: Why patients should go medical
- For Physicians: How to get involved
The history of medical cannabis in Canada
Before we dive further into the relationship between medical cannabis and how current healthcare professionals are impacted by the legalization of cannabis, we want to outline how the distribution of this drug has evolved here in Canada.
Marihuana for Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) in 2001
The Canadian government started by introducing the first medical marijuana law, the Marihuana for Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) back in 2001. This law established firm guidelines surrounding how and when medical cannabis could be permitted for medical purposes. Licensed patients had access to certain supplies to grow their own cannabis, or could obtain it through licensed growers.
Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) in 2013
Soon after, in 2013, the government implemented a new law, the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) which changed the way licensed patients would have access to their medical cannabis. The new legislation focused on creating an industry around the production and distribution of medical cannabis and withdrew the patient’s right to grow their own cannabis.
Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) in 2016
This prompted outrage from patients who were forced to seek licensed producers, and the law was eventually revised again a few years later. So in 2016, the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) reinstated patients rights to grow medical cannabis for their own use.
Cannabis Act in 2018
Finally, the Cannabis Act came into effect in October of 2018. There is now a regulatory framework in place to help Canadians access cannabis in a safe and legal way. Rules regarding the production, distribution, and possession of cannabis can be found in more detail on the Government of Canada’s website.
Canadians can now purchase a variety of cannabis products from dispensaries and online stores alike. However, there are some differences that separate recreational cannabis from its medical counterpart.
Recreational Cannabis vs. Medical Cannabis: Why patients should go medical
1. Support and Cannabis Guidance
First and foremost, we believe the greatest difference patients experience when pursuing medical cannabis is the support and guidance they receive from a clinical team.
At Revolution Medical Cannabis locations, we not only have trained doctors but educators who are always a phone call away for patients. Educators are able to help patients from the moment they’re considering cannabis for their health to finding a licensed producer that suits their needs.
As medical professionals, we have the ability to create a customized plan for each of our patients. The variety of cannabis products available can be overwhelming, but we can help determine dosage, strain, and method of ingestion that will best treat our patients’ individual health needs.
2. Cannabis can conflict with prescriptions and medical conditions
Additionally, medical history and current prescriptions can affect the benefits and outcomes of medical cannabis. It is important for perspective cannabis users to understand that these factors can impact their experience.
3. Accessibility to Medical Cannabis Supply
Accessibility is another major benefit of medical cannabis. Through licensed producers, continued availability to products can be a major plus for those healing through this powerful plant. If Canadians chose to seek their strains at local shops, they run the risk of having to constantly adjust their regime to accommodate the stock available on their date of purchase.
4. Price, Tax, and Insurance Advantage
Finally, there is a financial benefit to choosing medical cannabis. The products are more stable in price, and some insurance companies are exploring the options for covering medical cannabis prescriptions.
Patients may also be able to write off certain medical cannabis purchases from their taxes, granted they have a prescription and go through the correct channels to acquire their cannabis.
For Physicians: How to get involved
We couldn’t agree more with the following quote from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta:
“Legalization will not remove physicians’ responsibilities or their role as gatekeepers for the legitimate authorization of cannabis for medical purposes.”
Appointments for Alberta residents are free and covered by Alberta Health Services. If you would like to be a part of this exciting time in Canada’s medical history, schedule an intro call with one of our educators and participating doctors today.
During this call, we can address any questions you may have regarding…
- The process of prescribing cannabis to your patients
- How you can become a cannabis prescriber
- How to help Canadians obtain quality medical cannabis
- How to address in more detail how our services could positively impact your patients.
If you already feel comfortable with the idea of recommending medical cannabis, you can always refer your patients to our clinic. We have a team of healthcare professionals who are ready to walk your patients through their options.
You can also register to be a physician with us here at Revolution Medical Cannabis. You will have the ability to practice out of your own clinic and prescribe cannabis with our support. Alternatively, you can also practice at one of our clinics. In Calgary, we currently have 6 locations.
If you are not in Alberta, please feel free to connect with us regardless. We are happy to train and support physicians all over Canada.
Many patients are currently still on waiting lists, prolonging treatment until they can be educated by medical professionals on how cannabinoids can improve their quality of life.
Be part of shrinking the gap of the patient to doctor access to this natural form of treatment.
