Cannabis

No. Under the federal Cannabis Act, the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations prohibit pharmacies (or any retail outlet) from dispensing cannabis for medical purposes. 

A pharmacist cannot alter or repackage cannabis, or be responsible to obtain, possess, or distribute cannabis on behalf of a patient. 

The holder of a federal license for sale for Cannabis for Medical Purposes must deliver directly to the patient, by mail and in the licensed processor’s original packaging, pursuant to an order from a health care practitioner. 

Cannabis for recreational or non-medical purposes can only be distributed or sold through the online Ontario Cannabis Store or through privately run retail stores that have received a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

Community pharmacists are not exempt from the methodologies of distribution of cannabis outlined in the legislation. For additional information, please contact Health Canada’s Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch (CLRB) at [email protected]. 

Pharmacists are expected to gather relevant information through dialogue with the patient to assess the appropriateness of a prescribed medication and to identify potential drug interactions. This may include asking about allergies, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors, such as the patient’s diet, alcohol, exercise, tobacco, and cannabis consumption. 

As medication experts, pharmacists are in a unique position to support patients who consume cannabis, collaborating with other health care professionals as needed, to promote patient safety while striving to meet their health goals and desired treatment outcomes.

Pharmacists are medication experts and are often the most accessible healthcare providers for patients. Ontarians who consume or are considering consuming cannabis should expect their pharmacist to have the knowledge to help them make the best decisions about their care and to be able to effectively respond to their cannabis-related inquiries. 

In addition to the opportunity to provide advice on cannabis use, there is also an opportunity to educate the public on harm prevention strategies to reduce possible risks associated with cannabis consumption and to identify and assist patients who are at risk of cannabis use disorder. Also, as a patient could acquire recreational cannabis without the intervention of a health professional and intend to consume it for medical purposes, pharmacists are in an ideal position to support patients in such circumstances. 

No. Under the federal Cannabis Act, activities with cannabis are prohibited unless authorized by the Cannabis Regulations. It is prohibited to obtain, or offer to obtain cannabis by any method or process, including altering its chemical or physical properties. Any compounding activity involving cannabis would require enabling regulations or an exemption from the application of the Act by the Minister under subsection 140(1). 

For additional information, please contact Health Canada’s Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch (CLRB) at [email protected].