e-factsheet - Ontario College of Pharmacists

8
Marijuana Medical
Access Regulations
Greg Ujiye, B.Sc.Phm., Manager, Pharmacy Practice Programs
The Marijuana Medical Access Regulations
(Regulations) came into effect on July 30, 2001
as an amendment to the Narcotic Control
Regulations. The Regulations provide seriously ill
Canadian patients access to marijuana (at the same
time that it is being researched as a possible medicine)
by defining the circumstances and the manner in
which access for medical purposes will be permitted.
The Regulations contain two main components:
“authorization to possess” and “licences to produce”.
The authorization to possess, and licence to produce
marijuana for medical purposes will be granted under
the following three categories:
Category 1:
Patients who have terminal illnesses with a prognosis
of death in 12 months or less.
Category 2:
Patients who suffer from specific symptoms associated
with some serious medical conditions. Symptoms are
part of a schedule to the Regulations. See table:
Medical Condition Symptom(s)
Cancer, AIDS, HIV infection Severe nausea
Cancer, AIDS, HIV infection Cachexia, anorexia,
weight loss
Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injury Persistent muscle spasms
or disease
Epilepsy Seizures
Cancer, AIDS, HIV infection, Severe pain
Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injury
or disease, severe forms of arthritis
Category 3:
Symptoms associated with medical conditions other
than those in categories 1 and 2. Specific statements
from two medical specialists are required to support an
application in this category.
Authorization to Possess
Authorization to possess marijuana for medical purposes
will be issued by Health Canada. The requirements for
Pharmacy Connection September·October 2001
the authorization will be dependent on the category
for use.
All applications will have to be submitted by a
medical practitioner on behalf of the patient.
Depending on the category, supporting documentation
from other medical specialists may be required.
A list of therapies tried or considered will have to be
submitted with the reasons why they were found to
be medically inappropriate.
An authorization to possess marijuana for medical
purposes will specify a maximum quantity of marijuana
equivalent to a 30-day treatment supply. Additional
requirements will be imposed when proposed dosage
exceeds a quantity of 5 gm/day.
Licence to Produce
Licences to produce will be issued by Health Canada
to either the patient or a representative designated by
the patient. A patient may also be permitted to produce
for his or her own personal use. The licence also allows
for storage and transportation of marijuana to the
patient. A criminal record check is required for anyone
designated by the licence to produce marijuana.
A representative cannot be designated by more than
one patient, however a site can be used for the
production of marijuana under a maximum of three
separate licences.
A licence also authorizes the maximum number of
plants that can be produced and this is dependent
upon the patient’s daily dosage as defined by the physician.
The protection from loss or theft of the plants or
dried marijuana will be the responsibility of the holder
of the licence.
Impact on Pharmacy
Community and hospital pharmacists are not
directly affected as the regulations currently address
personal possession and production of marijuana
only. Medical practitioners are most affected due
to the requirement that their authorization must be
obtained on applications.
Continued on page 30