Medical document authorizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes

Information for patients

Your health care practitioner may choose to use this form to indicate their support for your use of cannabis for medical purposes. Your health care practitioner may also choose to use a different form, but the required information outlined in section 273 of the Cannabis Regulations must be included.

For individuals registering with Health Canada licence holders: Should you choose to access cannabis from a holder of a licence for medical sales (licensed seller), this form must be sent directly to the licensed seller of your choice. Please see the Health Canada website for a list of licence holders authorized to sell cannabis for medical purposes. Should you wish to switch from one licensed seller to another, you can request the transfer of your original medical document and the licensed seller must comply. Licensed sellers may also transfer your original medical document among themselves (e.g. in cases of mergers or acquisitions) provided that you give consent.

For individuals registering with Health Canada to produce or possess cannabis for medical purposes: Should you choose to produce your own cannabis, designate someone to produce it for you, or wish to register for possession only, the original of this document must be sent to Health Canada with the appropriate application form.

Information for health care practitioners

To assist health care practitioners who authorize cannabis for their patients, Health Canada has published three documents on its website that provide important information on research into the medicinal use of cannabis, dosing and administration, and patient information.

As noted in Health Canada's Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the cannabinoids, data from patient surveys and clinical studies suggests that most patients use up to 3 grams of dried cannabis per day for medical purposes, although much less (less than 1 gram per day) can be used with apparent efficacy and decreased incidence of side-effects. The current average daily authorized amount for patients obtaining their cannabis from federally-licensed sellers is 2.1 grams per day.

Many provincial and territorial medical licensing bodies as well as the College of Family Physicians of Canada have published their own guidance for health care practitioners related to authorizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes.