Medical Use of Cannabis (Marijuana)
Resources:
The Official Position of the Canadian AIDS Society on the Therapeutic Use of Cannabis
Policy Report with Recommendations: Cannabis as Therapy for People Living with HIV/AIDS: “Our Right, Our Choice”
Cannabis and HIV/AIDS webpage
Published Paper:
Barriers to Access to Medical Cannabis for Canadians Living with HIV/AIDS
Background
The federal government has a program which offers seriously and chronically ill Canadians access to cannabis for medical purposes. Thousands of Canadians who use cannabis for medical purposes, many of them people living with HIV/AIDS, are having difficulties accessing the program and most still rely on the black market as the source for their medicine. Physicians are reluctant to sign their patients’ application forms. The costs of cannabis for medical purposes are not reimbursed, making it difficult for many to afford. Many people are put off by the lengthy bureaucratic process to obtain an authorization. Those who have managed to obtain legal authorization to possess cannabis for medical purposes report reduced levels of stress, which has a positive effect on their overall health. Polls reveal that over 90% of Canadians support access to cannabis for medical purposes.
Questions to Ask Local Candidates
- What are your thoughts about a person’s right to access the therapy of their choice without fear of prosecution?
- How is your party planning to address the barriers to legal access to cannabis for medical purposes? (costs, reluctance of the medical community, access to a safe, affordable and legal source)
- What is your party’s position on cannabis in general?