Is Legalization Bad For Weed Patients?

The legalization of cannabis in Canada was made possible in large part by the hard work and dedication of patients who have been using the drug for medical purposes since 2001. Cannabis provides many benefits for those suffering from a variety of conditions, and its legalization will allow more people to access these benefits.

We must remember that it is medical patients who have allowed us to have a legal framework in Canada, and we should continue to work hard to support them.

Cannabis industry experts say that legalization for all adults has not necessarily benefited medical users, and that increased barriers to access and affordability are setting patients back.

The high cost of living and the burden of debt can make it difficult to make ends meet.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a plant species in the family Cannabaceae. It includes three primary subspecies: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis has been used for a variety of purposes, including for its medicinal and recreational effects. It is also known for its psychoactive compounds, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

What Is THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It is responsible for the “high” commonly associated with cannabis use. THC acts on the cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which are involved in the regulation of mood, appetite, and other cognitive functions. The amount of THC in cannabis varies depending on the strain, with some strains having higher levels of THC than others.

What Is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD is one of many compounds, known as cannabinoids, that are found in the cannabis plant. Unlike the more well-known compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not produce the “high” commonly associated with cannabis use.

CBD has become increasingly popular in recent years as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, including anxiety, pain, and insomnia. It is also used to manage symptoms of conditions such as multiple sclerosis and help with epilepsy. CBD is available in a variety of forms, including oils, capsules, and topical creams.

Financial barriers

Price is the most common barrier to medical cannabis for patients, according to Max Monahan-Ellison, vice president of Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana (CFAMM).

“The cost is especially high for patients who have limited access to health insurance benefits, so these costs are paid entirely out of pocket,” he says, adding that in his experience, patient costs can range from $50 to over $2,000 per month. .

Cannabis is taxed at both the provincial and federal level in Canada, which makes it more difficult for medical patients to access it as they are taxed at the same rate as recreational users. According to Ramkellawan, this is unfair as no other medicine is taxed in this way.

Access issues

There are no legal channels for obtaining medical cannabis in Canada; patients can only obtain it through mail delivery. However, this system is far from perfect, as cannabis lawyer Caryma Sa’d has explained. She has heard numerous stories of patients facing problems with mail delivery, including condo security refusing to accept packages.

Medical patients in Canada face significant barriers to accessing the cannabis products they need, due to shortages resulting from legalization. According to Ramkellawan, there are no requirements in the new legislation to guarantee cannabis availability or priority placement for medical patients. This means that many medical patients are left without access to the products they need.

Dosing inconsistency and restrictions

Capping cannabis potency at 10mg per serving may protect recreational users from getting too high, but this limit does not account for the needs of medical patients who may require higher dosages.

Patients deserve a more accurate and reliable dosing system for their medication, especially when it comes to medical cannabis. Monahan-Ellison points out that current regulations allow for up to a 25% margin of error in potency for edibles and concentrates. This leaves patients struggling to control their dosage and manage their medication effectively.

Unwanted attention can be intrusive and unwelcome. It can make people feel uncomfortable and can interfere with their ability to live their lives peacefully.

“Legalization not only creates legal barriers for patients, it exacerbates social barriers,” Sa’d said. Patients find themselves in an unwanted spotlight, which can be unsettling for those who have lived in the public eye for years, she explained. Domestically, condominiums and condominiums updated their bylaws to include prohibitions following the legalization of marijuana. On the job, employers add marijuana use to their impairment policies, leaving medical patients exposed.

Sa’d explains that some patients find themselves in a difficult position when it comes to deciding whether to disclose personal medical information to employers or landlords. On the one hand, they have a right to privacy; on the other hand, they may worry that their private data will be kept on file and used against them. This dilemma is especially acute for groups that have been disproportionately affected by prohibition.

As cannabis becomes increasingly mainstream, its potential as a medical treatment is becoming more widely recognized. Medical cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, from chronic pain to epilepsy. With further research, the potential applications of medical cannabis are only likely to grow. As such, it is an exciting and promising area of medicine, with the potential to greatly improve the lives of patients.

The future of medical cannabis

There is some good news for medical cannabis consumers. Ramkellawan says that patients can expect to see a wider variety of products becoming available, such as topicals, patches, suppositories, inhalers, and more. She sees this as the third stage in the evolution of cannabis, and is very excited about it.

Ramkellawan believes that these new products will enable more consistent dosing and outcomes in medication, likely leading more doctors to consider cannabis a viable medical treatment. This would in turn ease social stigma for those who already use cannabis medicinally.