A legislative review of the Cannabis Act includes a question that could threaten the medical cannabis program, according to an expert in the field.

The 2018 Cannabis Act, which created a framework designed to regulate the cannabis industry included a mandatory review to be done roughly three years after its passing.

Following some delays, Health Canada has set out to initiate the review with a questionnaire that includes a question which Ted Smith of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club said may threaten the future of the medical cannabis program.

The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club is an unlicensed dispensary that provides cannabis to people who have documentation of a chronic medical issue that can be treated using cannabis. It contravenes the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act.

B次元官网网址淨uestion 5.2 in the survey, towards the end, bluntly asks if the medical marijuana program can be eliminated and patients kind of shovelled into the recreational system,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淪o theyB次元官网网址檙e quite blunt in their question and I believe itB次元官网网址檚 because they have the full intent of shutting the program down.B次元官网网址�

The question Smith is referring to asks: B次元官网网址淚s a distinct medical access program necessary to provide individuals with reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes, or can access needs be met through the non-medical framework?B次元官网网址�

Health Canada clarified patients can access cannabis for medical purposes in one of two ways B次元官网网址� registering with a federally-licensed seller to purchase regulated products directly (secure delivery by mail or courier to a residence or a consenting health care practitioner), or by registering with Health Canada to cultivate cannabis for their own medical purposes.

Adults can also purchase cannabis products at provincial retailers as the regulatory requirements are the same as the medical access framework.

B次元官网网址淪o people that are illiterate, the elderly, people who are really disabled, or the homeless B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people who just canB次元官网网址檛 access the medical system because of how itB次元官网网址檚 designed,B次元官网网址� Smith said.

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The struggle over the distinction of medical and recreational cannabis use includes doctors, insurance companies and the government. However, Smith said at the end of the day, the people who are impacted the most are the patients who rely on cannabis as medication.

With limited support from the medical community, Smith said Health Canada has been pushing to end the medical cannabis program since its inception.

B次元官网网址淭hey [doctors] donB次元官网网址檛 want to talk about it, they donB次元官网网址檛 want to prescribe it, they donB次元官网网址檛 understand it,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淪o the medical community for the most part B次元官网网址� while there are some doctors supportive B次元官网网址� most of the medical community wants out of it. The insurance companies donB次元官网网址檛 want to cover it as a prescription drug.B次元官网网址�

With the medical program already difficult to navigate, Smith said many patients are turning to the black market for high-dosage cannabis products such as gummies and other edibles.

B次元官网网址淭he black market is prolific right now, especially for high-dosage edibles, medical patients arenB次元官网网址檛 going to just go buy more expensive, low-dose products because theyB次元官网网址檙e legal,B次元官网网址� Smith said.

This review comes as not a response to these issues, but as another obstacle for medical marijuana program advocates, he said.

Smith is confident that any moves to strike the medical cannabis program from the books will be undertaken quickly, but will be challenged by patient advocates.

B次元官网网址淗opefully it never happens, it will be challenged in court,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淎s time goes on, some of the arguments weB次元官网网址檝e won on in the past arenB次元官网网址檛 as strong. So itB次元官网网址檚 a scary situation for patients because there are a lot of unknowns.B次元官网网址�

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EditorB次元官网网址檚 note: This article has been updated from its original version to correct an error. We apologize for any confusion it may have caused.

hollie.ferguson@vicnews.com
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