CANNABIS ACT
Legalization may see more
patients discuss marijuana use
A
s of October 17, Canadians will be able to
consume marijuana recreationally without
criminal penalties. With the bill to legalize
and regulate marijuana now passed by
Parliament, the prevalence of use may increase, and
patients may be more open to sharing information
about their use with health-care professionals.
As such, physicians, as part of routine history-
taking, may wish to ask their patients whether they
use cannabis in the same manner that they ask about
alcohol use and smoking.
The Cannabis Act creates rules for producing, pos-
sessing and selling recreational cannabis across Cana-
da. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario will oversee
the sale and distribution of recreational cannabis,
with customers able to buy marijuana at the Ontario
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DIALOGUE ISSUE 2, 2018
Cannabis Store, both online and in brick and mortar
buildings. Patients with a prescription for medical
cannabis, however, will still need to access their can-
nabis through a licensed producer.
The framework for medical access to cannabis –
which is articulated in the College’s Marijuana for
Medical Purposes policy – will remain the same.
Physicians will still have primary responsibility for the
decision to authorize patient use of marijuana for medi-
cal purposes. Physicians enable patients to access a legal
supply of marijuana by completing a medical document
that functions like a conventional prescription.
As with any emerging practice issue, the College’s
expectation is that physicians will obtain the knowl-
edge, skills and judgment needed to competently care
for their patients.
MD