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Medical Marijuana in Canada

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Although it’s not a mainstream form of medication in Canada, the use of medical marijuana  to ease the pain of some sever conditions is permitted under Canadian Law. The Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations outlines the strict conditions under which cannabis can be possessed, consumed and grown.

If you have held a medicinal cannabis prescription in your home country, you may be interested, or if you are considering trying it as to help chronic pain or illness symptoms, you may be curious about the rights and restrictions of using medical marijuana in Canada. Here’s some information about who is eligible to obtain a medical marijuana prescriptions, and the process of obtaining it.

Regulations established in 2001 by Health Canada state that there are two categories of patients eligible for a prescription.

Category 1 includes:

  • People suffering severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, a spinal cord injury, and/or a spinal cord disease,
  • People suffering severe pain as a result of cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea from cancer or HIV/AIDS infection,
  • People suffering severe pain as a result of severe forms of arthritis, and
  • Those suffering from seizures from epilepsy.

Category 2:

Somewhat more vague than category 1, people who fall in category 2 have other debilitating symptoms as a result of a medical condition other than the ones listed in Category 1.  This can include those who have a medical need related to compassionate end-of-life care.

The process of obtaining  prescription and medical marijuana in Canada:

  • Before obtaining a prescription, talk to your doctor. A patient must visit a physician in order for the situation to assessed. Be sure to tell your doctor about the symptoms you feel need to be aided, and make a list of previous medications or therapies you have tried in the past. The physician must decide whether or not medical marijuana is the correct form of medication. The physician is required to weigh this option with other available strategies, consider the risks involved, and comply with all applicable standards of practice. Doctors will determine proper usage and dosage.
  • Next, you need to obtain a medical document from your doctor or healthcare practitioner.   The document must contain your name, date of birth, address, amount of marijuana you are authorized to use daily, information about your healthcare practitioner, and an attestation by him/her that the information is correct. 
  • When you have a medical document, you can now register and order your medical marijuana in Canada with a licensed producer. Bring the medical document with you, and to understand the specific registration requirements of a particular producer, contact them directly. Once you have ordered, your medical marijuana in Canada will be shipped directly to you by the producer.

We at Settle-in.com hope this information helps you to understand medical marijuana in Canada.

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Georgia

About Georgia

For years, I knew that I wanted to move to Canada to get my postsecondary education. From the exciting and diverse museums, nightlife and dining found in the big cities, to the wealth of natural beauty, I was captivated by the country. I was a little nervous to travel all the way from Australia, but I knew the experience would teach me a lot. It’s true that relocation is never easy. The packing, shipping and visa formalities can all be complicated. But with careful planning and a little help from the veteran relocators (like me!) you’ll be settling in and enjoying the vibrancy of Canadian living in no time. // Depuis plusieurs années, je savais que le Canada était le pays parfait où je pouvais obtenir mon diplôme d’études secondaires. J’étais captivée par les villes du Canada que ce soit par les musées, les soirées, les repas dans les grandes villes ou encore la proximité de la beauté des paysages. J’étais anxieuse à l’idée de faire le voyage à partir de l’Australie mais je savais que cette expérience allait m’apprendre énormément de choses. C’est vrai que la relocalisation n’est jamais facile. L’emballage des affaires, l’expédition et les formalités de visa peuvent être stressants et compliqués mais avec une bonne organisation et un peu d’aide des anciens relocalisés ( comme moi ), vous serez rapidement installé et pourrez profiter de la trépidante vie canadienne en peu de temps.