Results
Revise Search
Authorizing Cannabis for Medical Purposes
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11514
- Last Reviewed
- 2020-02-29
- Date
- 2015-02-28
- Topics
- Pharmaceuticals/ prescribing/ cannabis/ marijuana/ drugs
1 document
- Policy Type
- Policy document
- Last Reviewed
- 2020-02-29
- Date
- 2015-02-28
- Text
- Authorizing Cannabis for Medical Purposes The legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes came into effect with the Cannabis Act in October 2018, and patients continue to have access to cannabis for therapeutic purposes. The Cannabis Regulations have replaced the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. Patients can obtain cannabis for medical purposes when a physician or nurse practitioner provides a “medical document” , authorizing its use, and determining the daily dried cannabis dose in grams. With the authorization, patients have the choice whether to (a) buy directly from a federally licensed producer; (b) register with Health Canada to produce a limited amount for personal consumption; (c) designate someone to produce it for them; or (d) buy cannabis at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets or online sales platforms, if above the legal age limit. While acknowledging the unique requirements of patients suffering from a terminal illness or chronic disease for which conventional therapies have not been effective and for whom cannabis may provide relief, physicians remain concerned about the serious lack of clinical research, guidance and regulatory oversight for cannabis as a medical treatment. There is insufficient clinical information on safety and efficacy for most therapeutic claims. There is little information around therapeutic and toxic dosages and knowledge on interactions with medications. Besides the need for appropriate research, health practitioners would benefit from unbiased, accredited educational modules and decision support tools based on the best available evidence. The Canadian Medical Association has consistently expressed concern with the role of gatekeeper that physicians have been asked to take as a result of court decisions. Physicians should not feel obligated to authorize cannabis for medical purposes. Physicians who choose to authorize cannabis for their patients must comply with their provincial or territorial regulatory College's relevant guideline or policy. They should also be familiar with regulations and guidance, particularly:
- Health Canada’s Information for Health Care Practitioners – Medical Use of Cannabis (monograph, summary and daily dose fact sheet),
- the Canadian Medical Protective Association’s guidance;
- the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s preliminary guidance Authorizing Dried Cannabis for Chronic Pain or Anxiety; and
- the Simplified guideline for prescribing medical cannabinoids in primary care, published in the Canadian Family Physician. The CMA recommends that physicians should:
- Ensure that there is no conflict of interest, such as direct or indirect economic interest in a licensed cannabis producer or be involved in dispensing cannabis;
- Treat the authorization as an insured service, similar to a prescription, and not charge patients or the licensed producer for this service;
- Until such time as there is compelling evidence of its efficacy and safety for specific indications, consider authorizing cannabis only after conventional therapies are proven ineffective in treating patients’ conditions;
- Have the necessary clinical knowledge to authorize cannabis for medical purposes;
- Only authorize in the context of an established patient-physician relationship;
- Assess the patient’s medical history, conduct a physical examination and assess for the risk of addiction and diversion, using available clinical support tools and tests;
- Engage in a consent discussion with patients which includes information about the known benefits and adverse health effects of cannabis in its various forms (e.g., edibles), including the risk of impairment to activities such as driving and work;
- Advise the patient regarding harm reduction strategies and the prevention of accidental exposure for children and other people;
- Document all consent discussions in patients' medical records;
- Reassess the patient on a regular basis for its effectiveness to address the medical condition for which cannabis was authorized, as well as for addiction and diversion, to support maintenance, adjustment or discontinuation of treatment; and
- Record the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes similar to when prescribing a controlled medication. The Cannabis Regulations provide some consistency with many established provincial and territorial prescription monitoring programs for controlled substances. Licensed producers of cannabis for medical purposes are required to provide information to provincial and territorial medical licensing bodies upon request, including healthcare practitioner information, daily quantity of dried cannabis supported, period of use, date of document and basic patient information. The Minister of Health can also report physicians to their College should there be reasonable grounds that there has been a contravention of the Narcotic Control Regulations or the Cannabis Regulations. Approved by CMA Board February 2015 Latest update approved by CMA Board in February 2020
Documents
Precision medicine into clinical care
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11663
- Last Reviewed
- 2018-03-03
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Physician practice/ compensation/ forms
- Resolution
- GC15-84
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a national strategy to integrate precision medicine into clinical care.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Last Reviewed
- 2018-03-03
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-84
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a national strategy to integrate precision medicine into clinical care.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a national strategy to integrate precision medicine into clinical care.
National seniors’ strategy includes evidence-based hospital practices
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11607
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-27
- The Canadian Medical Association recommends that a national seniors’ strategy includes evidence-based hospital practices that better meet seniors’ physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-27
- The Canadian Medical Association recommends that a national seniors’ strategy includes evidence-based hospital practices that better meet seniors’ physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association recommends that a national seniors’ strategy includes evidence-based hospital practices that better meet seniors’ physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs.
Seamless transition through the continuum of care in a national seniors’ strategy
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11608
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-28
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of innovative and alternative models/partnerships that can provide services and resources for patients’ seamless transition through the continuum of care in a national seniors’ strategy.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-28
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of innovative and alternative models/partnerships that can provide services and resources for patients’ seamless transition through the continuum of care in a national seniors’ strategy.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of innovative and alternative models/partnerships that can provide services and resources for patients’ seamless transition through the continuum of care in a national seniors’ strategy.
Consistent immunization policies
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11612
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-51
- The Canadian Medical Association supports consistent immunization policies, health and safety requirements and standardized reporting for all medical schools in Canada.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-51
- The Canadian Medical Association supports consistent immunization policies, health and safety requirements and standardized reporting for all medical schools in Canada.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports consistent immunization policies, health and safety requirements and standardized reporting for all medical schools in Canada.
National skin cancer awareness and prevention campaign
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11613
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health care and patient safety
- Resolution
- GC15-52
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a national skin cancer awareness and prevention campaign.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-52
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a national skin cancer awareness and prevention campaign.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a national skin cancer awareness and prevention campaign.
National immunization registry
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11615
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-53
- The Canadian Medical Association urges the federal government to accelerate the development and implementation of a national immunization registry.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-53
- The Canadian Medical Association urges the federal government to accelerate the development and implementation of a national immunization registry.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association urges the federal government to accelerate the development and implementation of a national immunization registry.
Promoting and raising awareness of immunization against childhood diseases
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11617
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-55
- The Canadian Medical Association asks governments to step up their commitment to promoting and raising awareness of immunization against childhood diseases.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-55
- The Canadian Medical Association asks governments to step up their commitment to promoting and raising awareness of immunization against childhood diseases.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association asks governments to step up their commitment to promoting and raising awareness of immunization against childhood diseases.
Laboratories work collaboratively with physicians
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11618
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-61
- The Canadian Medical Association recommends that laboratories work collaboratively with physicians to ensure that ranges reported in connection with laboratory results are evidence based and clinically significant.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-61
- The Canadian Medical Association recommends that laboratories work collaboratively with physicians to ensure that ranges reported in connection with laboratory results are evidence based and clinically significant.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association recommends that laboratories work collaboratively with physicians to ensure that ranges reported in connection with laboratory results are evidence based and clinically significant.
Barriers to accessing immunization
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11620
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-56
- The Canadian Medical Association will work to reduce barriers to accessing immunization.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-56
- The Canadian Medical Association will work to reduce barriers to accessing immunization.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association will work to reduce barriers to accessing immunization.
Continuing professional development that result in measurable improvement outcomes for patient care
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11622
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-44
- The Canadian Medical Association encourages the expansion of continuing professional development opportunities that result in measurable improvement outcomes for patient care.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-44
- The Canadian Medical Association encourages the expansion of continuing professional development opportunities that result in measurable improvement outcomes for patient care.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association encourages the expansion of continuing professional development opportunities that result in measurable improvement outcomes for patient care.
Academic writing and editing among practicing physicians and physicians-in-training
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11627
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Physician practice/ compensation/ forms
- Ethics and medical professionalism
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-47
- The Canadian Medical Association will promote the development of resources to foster academic writing and editing among practicing physicians and physicians-in-training.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Physician practice/ compensation/ forms
- Ethics and medical professionalism
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-47
- The Canadian Medical Association will promote the development of resources to foster academic writing and editing among practicing physicians and physicians-in-training.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association will promote the development of resources to foster academic writing and editing among practicing physicians and physicians-in-training.
Best practices to assist patients aged 16 to 24 transitioning from pediatric to adult health services
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11628
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health care and patient safety
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-57
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of best practices to assist patients aged 16 to 24 transitioning from pediatric to adult health services.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-57
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of best practices to assist patients aged 16 to 24 transitioning from pediatric to adult health services.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of best practices to assist patients aged 16 to 24 transitioning from pediatric to adult health services.
National strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11629
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-58
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a life-span broad national strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorder that covers research, prevention, treatment, education, support, funding and policies.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-58
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a life-span broad national strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorder that covers research, prevention, treatment, education, support, funding and policies.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of a life-span broad national strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorder that covers research, prevention, treatment, education, support, funding and policies.
Improved access to bariatric surgery across Canada
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11630
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-59
- The Canadian Medical Association supports improved access to bariatric surgery across Canada.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-59
- The Canadian Medical Association supports improved access to bariatric surgery across Canada.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports improved access to bariatric surgery across Canada.
Training in the handover of patient care
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11631
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-48
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the inclusion of training in the handover of patient care as part of the accreditation standards for Canadian medical schools.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-48
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the inclusion of training in the handover of patient care as part of the accreditation standards for Canadian medical schools.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the inclusion of training in the handover of patient care as part of the accreditation standards for Canadian medical schools.
The Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11632
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Physician practice/ compensation/ forms
- Resolution
- GC15-60
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-60
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health.
Provincial/territorial governments should fund all necessary growth in health care
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11640
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Resolution
- GC15-96
- The Canadian Medical Association insists that provincial/territorial governments should fund all necessary growth in health care.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-96
- The Canadian Medical Association insists that provincial/territorial governments should fund all necessary growth in health care.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association insists that provincial/territorial governments should fund all necessary growth in health care.
Public health budgets
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11648
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-68
- The Canadian Medical Association will conduct a campaign to urge governments to restore and increase public health budgets.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Health systems, system funding and performance
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-68
- The Canadian Medical Association will conduct a campaign to urge governments to restore and increase public health budgets.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association will conduct a campaign to urge governments to restore and increase public health budgets.
Price negotiations for prescription drugs
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11649
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Pharmaceuticals/ prescribing/ cannabis/ marijuana/ drugs
- Resolution
- GC15-69
- The Canadian Medical Association urges the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance to invite the federal government and private health insurance industry to participate in its price negotiations for prescription drugs.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-69
- The Canadian Medical Association urges the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance to invite the federal government and private health insurance industry to participate in its price negotiations for prescription drugs.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association urges the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance to invite the federal government and private health insurance industry to participate in its price negotiations for prescription drugs.