Since as early as the 1990s Canadians have been heavily advocating on legalizing cannabis for medical purposes. Groups had popped up across the Country providing cannabis to the “beleafers”.
Others were incredibly open about their use, how it assisted their epilepsy, and often dared authorities to lay possession charges on them, one man to be exact. This man is well known as Terrance Parker, and this is where the Canadian medical cannabis journey began.
Looking Back in Time
It is amazing to see us reach our 22nd year into the legalization of Medical Cannabis. When medical cannabis was first legalized in Canada, the only way to obtain the medication was to grow it yourself or to purchase it from Health Canada directly. Only four people were initially prescribed. By 2013 the number of plants permitted to grow by each patient and the number of patients utilizing the program alarmed Health Canada. The program was then replaced with new laws and regulations. This allowed Licensed Producers to grow and supply medical cannabis. This was the starting point for how the industry is run today. By the end of 2013, four LPs obtained licensing for medical cannabis cultivation and sales. It only took Canada’s medical market 10 years to grow as large as it is today. The last census update which was in 2020, reported there were 499 licenses currently issued for the cultivation and/or sale of medical cannabis in Canada, with Ontario leading the Country at 193.
The number of conditions cannabis is being recognized to assist with continues to grow. While research has not slowed down, hundreds of studies are expected to be completed in the next 2-3 years. Based on this, 2024 and 2025 will be busy years of insurance policy changes.
What will these changes be exactly?
It could mean we will see an increase in the recognized conditions insurance companies will cover medical cannabis for. Studies are heavily researching PTSD, Depression, Pain, and Anxiety with pre-clinical data showing lots of promise. Most insurance companies currently cover limited conditions like HIV/AIDs, Nausea, and Vomiting related to Chemotherapy, MS, and Chronic Neuropathic Pain (limited companies). The number of unions and workers’ compensation boards jumping on the medical cannabis coverage wagon has increased. A great deal of these only made these changes in the last 3 years.
In 2017 Licensed Producers began releasing their first cannabis oils, then came capsules in 2018, and now we have beard oils, suppositories, topical creams, beverages, and hundreds of more options. Medical cannabis is still early in the research. We started this industry with THC and CBD, and have now grown into supplying products containing CBN, CBG, THCa, and CBDa, with more cannabinoids expected to appear in the future. We have more education on the chemical components of cannabis including terpenes, cannaflavanoids, and the endocannabinoid system itself. It has been said before, 6 months in the cannabis industry, is equivalent to living 10 years in the pharmaceutical.
What needs to change?
There is still a high demand for growth and development in the medical sector. Consumers have made themselves loud and clear along with producers surrounding THC limits in cannabis products, currently, edibles sit at a max of 10mg per package, or 1000mg if a concentrate. Taxes continue to be a challenge for Licensed Producers and consumers, with costs being substantial, especially for those on limited incomes. In the past 4 years there has been a lot of shifting amongst the Licensed Producers. Some are purchasing other LPs. Some LPs have discontinued supplying directly to patients, others entered strictly into research, and some discontinued products or closed their doors. Patients are asking for support from their medical team with their medical cannabis and being pointed to the recreational market or being told “there is not enough research”, when in fact there is lots. Education and advocacy is still required to this day.
Consumers, clinics, and Licensed Producers face new challenges every time the Cannabis Act is revised. packaging, marketing restrictions, taxes, and THC limits change. Canada is one of the most heavily regulated cannabis bodies in the world, and this isn’t expected to change.
The number of Canadians accessing medical cannabis continues to grow daily, even with legalization. Canadians want access to plant medicine they can trust and a medicine that helps them live their day-to-day life. We have seen life-changing outcomes in this industry, people feel comfortable in social situations again due to controlling their anxiety, thousands feel rested because they can sleep again, and others are returning to physical activity because their pain is controlled. All of this happening with minimal side effects.
It is hard to say where we will see this industry in the future. It is recognized improvements are required and Health Canada is beginning to recognize this, they are spending more time listening to those heavily involved in the industry. Patients’ voices do need to be heard and acknowledged by Health Canada. Thousands of Canadians who are utilizing cannabis for medical purposes are faced with product shortages and discontinued products on a regular basis. Many patients rely on their medication to live day-to-day life. As research continues to occur, more Countries provide this ability to their citizens, it is only a matter of time before the numbers are so large that we cannot be ignored.