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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
Obesity as a chronic medical disease
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11700
- Last Reviewed
- 2019-03-03
- Date
- 2015-10-03
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-99
- The Canadian Medical Association recognizes obesity as a chronic medical disease.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Last Reviewed
- 2019-03-03
- Date
- 2015-10-03
- Resolution
- GC15-99
- The Canadian Medical Association recognizes obesity as a chronic medical disease.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association recognizes obesity as a chronic medical disease.
Adoption of fracture-liaison programs
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11601
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-21
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the adoption of fracture-liaison programs at facilities involved with post-fracture care.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-21
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the adoption of fracture-liaison programs at facilities involved with post-fracture care.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the adoption of fracture-liaison programs at facilities involved with post-fracture care.
National seniors’ strategy specifically addresses the needs of seniors in rural and northern areas
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11603
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-23
- The Canadian Medical Association will ensure that its national seniors’ strategy specifically addresses the needs of seniors in rural and northern areas.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-23
- The Canadian Medical Association will ensure that its national seniors’ strategy specifically addresses the needs of seniors in rural and northern areas.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association will ensure that its national seniors’ strategy specifically addresses the needs of seniors in rural and northern areas.
Support for family caregivers
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11604
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-24
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the inclusion of adequate, evidence-based support for family caregivers in a national seniors’ strategy.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-24
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the inclusion of adequate, evidence-based support for family caregivers in a national seniors’ strategy.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the inclusion of adequate, evidence-based support for family caregivers in a national seniors’ strategy.
The Canadian Medical Association recognizes the participation, roles and valuable contributions of seniors
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11605
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-25
- The Canadian Medical Association recognizes the participation, roles and valuable contributions of seniors in our society.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-25
- The Canadian Medical Association recognizes the participation, roles and valuable contributions of seniors in our society.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association recognizes the participation, roles and valuable contributions of seniors in our society.
Guidelines and standards for the use of telemonitoring technology
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11606
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Health information and e-health
- Resolution
- GC15-26
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of guidelines and standards for the use of telemonitoring technology.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-26
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of guidelines and standards for the use of telemonitoring technology.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development of guidelines and standards for the use of telemonitoring technology.
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.
Increased education and training in end- of-life care for community health care workers
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11610
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Ethics and medical professionalism
- Resolution
- GC15-34
- The Canadian Medical Association encourages increased education and training in end- of-life care for community health care workers.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-34
- The Canadian Medical Association encourages increased education and training in end- of-life care for community health care workers.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association encourages increased education and training in end- of-life care for community health care workers.
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.
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.
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.
Accredited standards for the management of life-limiting chronic disease
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11636
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Ethics and medical professionalism
- Resolution
- GC15-38
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development and application of accredited standards for the integration of a palliative care approach into the management of life-limiting chronic disease.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-38
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development and application of accredited standards for the integration of a palliative care approach into the management of life-limiting chronic disease.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association supports the development and application of accredited standards for the integration of a palliative care approach into the management of life-limiting chronic disease.
The medical profession’s critical role in supporting immunization
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy11643
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Topics
- Physician practice/ compensation/ forms
- Population health/ health equity/ public health
- Resolution
- GC15-63
- The Canadian Medical Association will provide information and tools to physicians to promote the medical profession’s critical role in supporting immunization.
- Policy Type
- Policy resolution
- Date
- 2015-08-26
- Resolution
- GC15-63
- The Canadian Medical Association will provide information and tools to physicians to promote the medical profession’s critical role in supporting immunization.
- Text
- The Canadian Medical Association will provide information and tools to physicians to promote the medical profession’s critical role in supporting immunization.