1. Medical Cannabis in Canada
Philippe Lucas MA
Center for Addictions Research of BC
Vancouver Island Compassion Society
Canadians for Safe Access

2. Background
• R. v. Parker (2000) - constitutional
right to choose cannabis as
medicine without fear of criminal
sanction
• In 2001, the Marihuana Medical
Access Regulations (MMAR)
• 1 million Canadians used cannabis
for self-defined medical conditions
(Adlaf, Begin & Sawka, 2005;
Belle-Isle & Hathaway, 2007)
• As of October 12, 2012, 26,222
Canadians had obtained an
authorization to possess cannabis
for medical purposes (Health
Canada)

3. Assessing Patient Needs in Canada
Quality of Service Assessment of Health Canada’s
Federal Medical Cannabis Policy and Practice
Philippe Lucas MA & Andrew Hathaway PhD
- Funding and ethics review by McMaster University.
• 50 question online survey of 100 authorized medical
cannabis users registered with Health Canada’s Marihuana
Medical Access Programme.
• Data gathered for 8 month period from April 2007 to Jan.
2008.
• Only assessment of patient needs and experiences ever
conducted with this population.

4. Cannabis Access for Medical
Purposes Survey (CAMPS):
Preliminary Findings on Barriers to Access
in Canada
Researchers:
Belle-Isle, Lynne, Canadian AIDS Society; CARBC
Walsh, Zachary, Department of Psychology, UBC Okanagan
Robert Callaway, Medical Cannabis Activist
Philippe Lucas, Center for Addictions Research of BC
Rielle Capler, Canadians for Safe Access
Bob Kay, Green Cannapy Research and Development Corporation
Trevor Stratton, Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network
Susan Holtzman, Department of Psychology, UBC Okanagan
Jamie Marshall, Interior Health Authority
Michael Woodworth, Department of Psychology, UBC Okanagan

5. Problems With Legal Access in Canada
• Resistance from medical community at the
provincial and federal level.
• 33 page application process long and
complicated.
• Low acceptability and lack of strain
selection in federal supply
• Cost is an ongoing barrier to safe access
(patients on fixed incomes/no provincial
coverage)
• Dispensaries popular with patients, but not
regulated by any level of government

6. Dispensaries: History and Context
• Medical cannabis dispensaries, also known as
compassion clubs, have been established in Canada
since 1997.
• Predate Health Canada’s MMAP (1999) and MMAR
(2001).
• Approx. 50 dispensaries across Canada serving over
50,000 patients across the country
• Not part of legal framework, but upheld in various
courts decisions.
• Ongoing move towards self-regulation.

7. Regulation of Dispensaries
In the absence of government licensing, most dispensaries in
Canada operate according to guidelines based on industry best
practices.

8. Canadian Association of Medical
Cannabis Dispensaries (CAMCD)
• CAMCD incorporated in 2011, with the following 4
goals:
✓Legislation ✓Certification ✓Integration ✓Research
• Mission: to promote a regulated community-based
approach to medical cannabis access, and to support
medical cannabis dispensaries to provide the highest
quality of patient care.

9. Regulation of Dispensaries
Medical Cannabis SEED Project
– Standards, Engagement, Evaluation, Dissemination.
Funded by a 3 year Peter Wall Solutions Initiative Grant (University of British
Columbia)
GOAL: Create Standards and an associated Certification Program in order to:
Integrate, Standardize, and Normalize dispensaries
• Evaluate impact on:
– Patients – satisfaction
– Dispensaries - uptake, quality of care
– Communities – awareness, understanding, support

10. Regulation of Dispensaries
CAMCD Certification Program: Ensuring
consistency, accountability, transparency, and superior quality of
patient care across the country.
– Sec. I Patient Eligibility
– Sec. II Patient Intake
– Sec. III Products and Services
– Sec. IV Dispensing
– Sec. V Supply
– Sec. VI Safety, Security and Privacy
– Sec. VII Effective Organization

11. Proposed Changes to Canada’s
Federal Medical Cannabis Program
PROS CONS
• Simplified/decentralized • Loss of personal production
application process • “Gatekeepers” still resistant
• NPs can prescribe (maybe) to this treatment modality
• Pharmacies can distribute • Dispensaries not included in
• Multiple licensed producers new regulations
• Increased quality control • Still no cost coverage
• Increased strain/symptom • Still not patient-centered
awareness (ignored patient feedback)

12. Medical Cannabis Research Priority
Setting Session
Sponsored through a grant by the Canadian Institute of
Health Research
Participants included:
• Health Canada
• BC Ministry of Health
• Police and Fire departments
• Researchers
• Patient Representatives
• Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
• Union of British Columbia Municipalities

13. Medical Cannabis in Canada
Philippe Lucas MA
Center for Addictions Research of BC
Vancouver Island Compassion Society
Canadians for Safe Access