The Government of Canada has announced that new regulations governing the medical cannabis program will come into effect on Aug. 24,2016 and licenced users can grow their own.
The Access to Cannabis for Medial Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) will replace the previous Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) program that was in place.
“Under the ACMPR, Canadians who have been authorized by their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes will be able to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them. They will also continue to have the option of purchasing safe, quality-controlled cannabis from one of the 34 producers licensed by Health Canada,” said Health Canada in a statement.
In order for an individual to produce ‘a limited amount of cannabis’ for their own medical purposes will need to obtain authorization from their health care practitioner and register with Health Canada prior to growing. Additional information on how to register and legally purchase starting materials will be available on Health Canada’s website on Aug. 24.
“Health Canada will work closely with provincial authorities, which regulate health care practitioners, to share data and information, such as the quantities of cannabis being authorized for medical purposes in their jurisdiction. Health Canada will also continue to support law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated phone line that is accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes,” continued the statement.
Canadians are being reminded by Health Canad that access to marijuana for medical purposes is only permitted under the terms and conditions set out by the ACMPR. Storefronts that sell marijuana are still unauthorized to sell cannabis for medical or any other purposes.
The government also states that these regulatory changes should not be interpreted as being the longer-term plan for the regulation of access to cannabis for medical purposes, which is presently being determined as part of the Government’s commitment to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to marijuana.
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