Login

Provincial Statements

Statements on medical cannabis from the provincial and territorial licensing bodies are listed in the table below.

  Position Statement Contact Details Link
British Colombia
3/2010		 College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. Physicians are advised that they should not prescribe any substance for their patients without knowing the risks, benefits, potential complications and drug interactions associated with the use of that agent. Currently, that caution includes marijuana in its smoked form. Furthermore, physicians may be the subject of accusations or suggestions of negligence, including liability if a prescribed drug, including prescribed marijuana, produces unforeseen or unidentified negative effects.
Alberta
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta recommends that physicians do not prescribe marijuana to patients. This recommendation is based on the lack of scientific evidence regarding medical marihuana’s risks and benefits and the lack of clarity surrounding civil litigation risks.
If you decide to prescribe marijuana, you need to ensure your complete compliance with the complex regulations outlined by Health Canada.
Saskatchewan
9/2005		 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan The College supports evidence-based medicine. In the absence of scientific information that provides the grounds to support the medical use of marijuana for the conditions set out in the regulations is evidence-based, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan is uncertain of the safety and efficacy of the medical use of marijuana.
Manitoba The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba  -   - 
Ontario
5/2002		 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario College Policy
Physicians are expected to use their best judgment in deciding whether to complete a medical declaration under the MMAR. To date, there have not been adequate studies that prove that marijuana is effective in relieving symptoms associated with serious medical conditions. The adverse effects of marijuana use include the harms associated with smoking.
Until further research evidence is available, the College Council confirms that:
  • Physicians are not obligated to complete a medical declaration under the MMAR. Physicians who choose to do so are advised to proceed with caution.
  • Physicians can consider prescribing the oral pharmaceutical form of cannabinoids where possible to address the treatment needs of patients who have chronic conditions.
Quebec Collège des médecins du Québec The Quebec College recommends that Quebec physicians limit their involvement in Health Canada’s access to marijuana program to the signature of medical certificates setting out the patient’s health condition.
Source: CMPA website		  - 
New Brunswick
6/2001		 College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Council gave approval to the concerns expressed by the Canadian Medical Association regarding the proposals for access to medical marijuana. The concerns principally revolved around the lack of appropriate guidelines for when such treatment was indicated.
It is noted that, subsequently, further amendments have been proposed. Nevertheless, the Canadian Medical Association has stated that such do not address their basic concerns (see www.cma.ca).
While the new proposal does not require the physician to file an application on the patient's behalf, it will be necessary for a physician to support any such request. In the case of terminal patients, such a request can come from any physician. For patients in a specific category of illnesses, approval must come from a specialist. For all other patients, the approval must be endorsed by two specialists.
It is appreciated that this scheme can create difficulties for physicians. While further information on the process of authorization will be published shortly, the basic questions regarding the appropriate indications, dosage, and monitoring, appear unsettled. Hence, the best physicians can do, should they wish to consider providing this for a patient, is to familiarize themselves as much as possible with the available information on the subject.
Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia  -   - 
P.E.I.
4/2002		 College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI Policy regarding the Prescribing of Marijuana
The legalized use of marijuana to treat symptoms of certain medical conditions currently presents physicians with a dilemma.
Physicians must always strive to “Do no harm,” but with any treatment, including drug treatment, they must always balance the potential benefits with the potential side effects, and, as much as possible, prescribe only scientifically supported treatments.
In situations where there is little scientific information about a particular treatment, there is both an increased difficulty, and an increased responsibility on physicians to fulfill their ethical responsibility. They should also familiarize themselves with the relevant regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Food and Drugs Act, and the Narcotic Control Act. They must also remain aware of any changes of prescribing information, both medical and legal.
Physicians contemplating the prescribing of marijuana for medical conditions are advised to first make themselves aware of the positions taken by the Canadian Medical Protective Association and the Canadian Medical Association on this matter.
Newfoundland College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland & Labrador Physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador are advised that when writing a declaration to support a patient’s application for marijuana, they should take into consideration all the factors they would normally consider when prescribing any other medication.
Physicians should not write to support a patient’s application for marijuana unless:
  • they have determined marijuana is appropriate for the patient’s illness;
  • they are knowledgeable of the risks, benefits, potential complications and drug interactions associated with marijuana use; and,
  • they believe that for their patients the benefits of marijuana outweigh the risks.
Physicians are reminded that they may be the subject of civil litigation or complaints to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador if marijuana, as with any other medication, causes unforeseen adverse effects.
Yukon Yukon Medical Council  -   - 
Northwest Territories & Nunavut  -  Department of Health and Social Services  -   - 
Nunavut  -  Government of Nunavut  -   - 
Federal Statements  
Canadian Medical Association
01/2006		 Canadian Medical Association
Office for Public Health
1867 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 5W8
Fax: (613) 236-8864
Tel (toll free):
1-888-855-2555
publichealth@cma.ca
 CMA Position
The CMA has always recognized and acknowledged the unique requirements of those individuals suffering from a terminal illness or chronic disease for which conventional therapies have not been effective and for whom marijuana for medicinal purposes may provide relief.
The new regulations (introduced in June 2005) reduced the onus on physicians to declare the need for, and dose of, marijuana, focusing instead on an attestation of diagnosis and failure of conventional therapies.
The government has now passed regulations which are an improvement to previous regulations. These regulations reduce the potential impact on the patient-physician relationship.
The CMA provided input to the revised medical marijuana regulations and accepts that physicians who feel qualified to recommend this product to patients do so in accordance with the regulations.
The advancement of scientific knowledge about medical marijuana must be encouraged. In order to encourage the research that is necessary to advance such knowledge, government should develop innovative methods to establish the safety, efficacy, most appropriate amount to be used, and the most effective delivery mechanism for treatment of specific conditions. The same safety standards should apply to medical marijuana as to pharmaceutical health products.
Canadian Medical Protective Association Revised: 05/2008 Canadian Medical Protective Association
PO Box 8225
Station "T"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 3H7
1 800 267-6522
Fax: 1 877 763-1300
feedback@cmpa.org
www.cmpa-acpm.ca 		Legislation requires physicians to sign a declaration of a patient's intention to use medical marijuana, and also requires patients to discuss risks with physicians.
The CMPA recommends physicians who complete the medical declaration ask the applicant to sign the CMPA's release from liability form. Physicians may want to keep copies of this form on hand for future use.

Release from liablilty form

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO QUEBEC PHYSICIANS: The Quebec College recommends that Quebec physicians limit their involvement in Health Canada’s access to marijuana program to the signature of medical certificates setting out the patient’s health condition. With respect to the CMPA’s release form, please note that article 11 of the Quebec’s Code of Ethics of Physicians reads as follows:
11. A physician must, in the practice of his profession, assume full civil liability at all times. He may not elude or attempt to elude, nor request that a patient or person renounce any recourse taken in a case of professional negligence on his part.
Canadian Opthlamological Society Revised:
3/2010		 Canadian Ophthalmological Society
610-1525 Carling Ave.
Ottawa ON, K1Z 8R9
Tel: 613-729-6779
Fax: 613-729-7209
Email: cos@eyesite.ca
Web: www.eyesite.ca 		The clinical utility of marijuana for the treatment of glaucoma is limited by the inability to separate the potential clinical action from the undesirable neuropsychological and behavioural effects. The Canadian Ophthalmological Society does not support the medical use of marijuana for the treatment of glaucoma due to the short duration of action, the incidence of undesirable psychotropic and other systemic side effects and the absence of scientific evidence showing a beneficial effect on the course of the disease. This is in contrast to other more effective and less harmful medical, laser and surgical modalities for the treatment of glaucoma. COS website