Canadian Medical Marijuana Regulations

Mogie

Medical Marijuana Regulations

Canadian federal government regulations on the possession and production of medical marijuana for personal use went into effect on July 30, 2001. The regulations are an attempt to provide some relief to those suffering from debilitating diseases and those who are terminally ill.

The regulations are also a result of an Ontario Court of Appeals ruling in July 2000 which, in effect, said that unless the federal government put a law in place within a year to allow people to use marijuana for legitimate medical needs, then it would no longer be a crime to smoke or grow marijuana in Ontario.

Before the new regulations took effect, candidates for medical marijuana had to apply to the Minister of Health for an exemption under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Possession of Medical Marijuana

Three categories of people can now apply to Health Canada to possess marijuana:

* those with a terminal illness, with a prognosis of less than 12 months to live

* those with specific symptoms, such as severe pain, associated with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and disease, AIDS/HIV, severe forms of arthritis and epilepsy

* those with symptoms from another serious medical condition not covered in the first two categories.

Applications for Medical Marijuana Licences

All applications must be supported by declarations from medical practitioners.

Patients can get information on the medical marijuana regulations and application forms from Health Canada's Marihuana Medical Access Division.

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