Do you have an ailment and want to explore other alternative forms of medication? Are you wondering how a patient obtains access to cannabis for medical purposes under the ACMPR, Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations? Under the ACMPR, patients who are in need of medical marijuana or their designate are required to register with a licensed producer (LP). An LP is a company who has legal permission, with a license, to produce and sell allowable forms of cannabis.  However, there is a process to follow in order to have access to medical cannabis. In this article the process is outlined step-by-step for you to easily understand the process to obtain cannabis for medical purposes from a licensed producer under the ACMPR.

Process to Obtain Medical Cannabis

Here are 4 steps to take if need access to medical cannabis and/or simply want to learn more about the process to obtain medical cannabis:

Step #1: Consult with a healthcare practitioner

First, you need to consult a healthcare practitioner about your medical condition(s) and discuss whether you should use cannabis to treat your symptoms.

Under the ACMPR, an authorized healthcare practitioner includes physicians in all provinces and territories, and nurse practitioners in provinces and territories where supporting cannabis for medical purposes is permitted under their scope of practice.

Step #2: Obtain a medical document from your healthcare practitioner

If your healthcare practitioner determines that a limited amount of cannabis should be used to treat your symptoms he/she needs to provide you with a medical document.

The following information must be included on the medical document signed and dated by the health care practitioner:

• your full name;
• your date of birth;
• address where you consulted with the practitioner;
• daily grams of dried marijuana you are authorized to use, the period of use (i.e. number of days, weeks or months), which cannot exceed one year from the date the medical document is signed by the healthcare practitioner;
• the healthcare practitioner’s name and, administrative information (profession, licence number, province of licence, business address, phone number, fax number and email address, if applicable); and
• an attestation by the health care practitioner that the information contained in the document is correct and complete.

Step #3: Register and order from a licensed producer

Once you have obtained a medical document from your authorized healthcare practitioner, you can register as a client with the licensed producer of your choice. To register, you will need to complete a registration form specific to that licensed producer and the original medical document from your healthcare practitioner. Please contact the licensed producer for further information regarding application requirements.

Do not send your medical document to Health Canada.

Registration forms are available on the website of a licensed producer or by contacting them directly.

After registering as a client, you will be able to order cannabis  products or your own medical use from the licensed producer.

If you want to produce cannabis for your own medical purposes, you are required to register with a licensed producer to obtain starting materials or an interim supply if you have:

• registered with Health Canada to produce cannabis for your own medical purposes
• designated another person to produce on your behalf

The following link provides a list of authorized licensed producers of cannabis for medical purposes:

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-use-marijuana/licensed-producers/authorized-licensed-producers-medical-purposes.html

Step #4: Shipping of your Cannabis for Medical Purposes

Your cannabis will be sent to you directly by the licensed producer. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) prohibits possession, trafficking, import and export, and production of controlled substances, including marijuana, unless authorized by regulations. Neither the ACMPR nor any other Health Canada regulations authorize licensed producers to provide cannabis for medical purposes through a storefront.

Possession of Cannabis for Medical Purposes:

You are allowed to possess up to a 30-day supply of dried marijuana, or its equivalent at one time. Your maximum amount is based on the lower amount of what your health care practitioner has recommended, or 150 grams.

For example, if your healthcare practitioner recommends:

• 2 grams of dried marijuana a day, you can possess up to 60 grams of dried marijuana at one time (2 grams x 30 days = 60 grams).
• 6 grams of dried marijuana a day, you can possess only 150 grams of dried marijuana (6 grams x 30 days = 180 grams). In this case, even though the total is 180 grams, the maximum amount is still only 150 grams, as set out in the regulations.

How to switch to a different licensed producer

You may switch to a different licensed producer at any time. Licensed producers are, however, not allowed to return your medical document. In order to switch licensed producers you must:

• Obtain a new medical document from your healthcare practitioner.
• Cancel your registration with your current licensed producer.
• Complete a registration form specific to the new licensed producer.
• Provide the original of your new medical document to the new licensed producer.

Registration forms are available on the licensed producer’s website or by contacting them directly.

You may wish to contact the licensed producer you choose to register with for further information regarding application requirements.

Showing Proof of Legal Possession of Cannabis for Medical Purposes:

If asked by law enforcement, you can demonstrate that you are in legal possession of cannabis for medical purposes obtained from a licensed producer by showing either the label on the package containing your specific client information or the separate document containing the same information which accompanied your shipment of cannabis.

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-use-marijuana/procedures-accessing-cannabis-medical-purposes-licensed-producer.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/getting-cannabis-from-licensed-producer/accessing-from-licensed-producer.html?_ga=2.151751802.258577180.1510742701-758898531.1510742701

For more information in regards to access of medical cannabis, how to register for medical cannabis use and/or licensed producers, you can review Health Canada’s website. You can also visit us on our website pipedreemz.org.