What is Medical Marijuana?

Marijuana is a plant that contains the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It can be ingested in a variety of ways such as smoking, vaporization or orally via food and drink. In Canada, it is illegal to possess, sell or harvest marijuana without permission from Health Canada.

Medical marijuana is doctor prescribed cannabis, and gives patients who suffer from specific health conditions access to limited quantities of the drug. These health conditions include but are not limited to epilepsy, asthma, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer’s, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and menstrual cramps. Patients can visit their doctors in person or consult online using video chat. Once a patient has been given a prescription, they will be able to obtain their medication from a Licensed Producer (LP). In Canada there are a total of thirty-nine LPs, spread across the provinces. Pricing will vary from provider to provider, but typically falls within the range of $7-12 per gram. Medical marijuana is not currently covered by government health insurance plans, but users can write off the cost as a medical expense for tax purposes as long as they can provide valid receipts. At the present time, doctors have authority to write prescriptions that are valid for as long as one year. In terms of possession, a patient is allowed to have a maximum of 150g of marijuana on their person at a given time. They are legally allowed to carry this amount while traveling within Canadian borders, but not outside of Canada.

The historical roots of medicinal marijuana can be traced back to second century China where the surgeon Hua Tuo used the plant as an anesthetic by turning it into a powder, mixing it with wine and giving it to patients prior to surgeries. Other early civilizations that used the drug for medicinal aims include ancient Greece and Egypt.

Positive side effects of marijuana use include feelings of euphoria, increased appetite, laughter and heightened sexual arousal. When not properly prescribed by a health care professional, negative side effects can include panic, anxiety, trouble concentrating and lethargy. The effects vary from user to user and are dependent on a range of factors such as the product strain and amount consumed.

On April 20th, 2016 the Liberal government announced that it would present a bill on broader legalization of Marijuana beyond the medical realm. The Canadian Medical Association has recommended that in the event of wider legalization, sales be permitted only to citizens at least twenty-one years of age with strict parameters on quantity and potency until they reach twenty-five. A government task force has recommended lowering the minimum age to eighteen, however, so that younger users are not lured into the black market. Other countries that have decriminalized Marijuana include Czech Republic, Ecuador, Portugal, Mexico and the Netherlands.