Health Canada can approve access to marijuana (marihuana, cannabis) for medical use to help treat the symptoms of certain medical conditions.
Under the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) and the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) you can apply for approval to use marijuana if you are suffering from a serious or debilitating illness, live in Canada, and have the support of a medical doctor. For more information on medical marijuana in Canada, visit the Health Canada Medical Use of Marihuana web page, call 1-866-337-7705, or speak with your health care provider.
All narcotics, including prescribed medications such as medical marijuana, can be addictive. If you are concerned about your use of narcotics, speak with your health care provider. Individual, family, and small group counselling is available to people of all ages who are directly or indirectly affected by alcohol and other drug use by calling the 24-hour BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service in the Lower Mainland at 604-660-9382 or toll-free anywhere in B.C. at 1-800-663-1441.
You may also search HealthLinkBC's FIND Services and Resources or contact your local health authority for mental health and substance use support in your area.
http://find.healthlinkbc.ca/
Medical Marijuana
What is medical marijuana and is it legal?
Medical marijuana (marihuana) is the use of this drug to help treat symptoms like
pain, nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite.
It's often used by people with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions.
In Canada, it is against the law to possess, sell, give away, or grow marijuana without legal permission from Health Canada.
In 2001, regulations were passed that allow people who have certain health problems to buy or grow a limited amount of marijuana for their own use. The law also allows for licensed people to provide medical marijuana to those who need it.
If you think you might want to try medical marijuana, talk to your doctor. You can also visit the Health Canada website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/index-eng.php for more information.
What do the experts say?
The medical use of marijuana has been studied for decades. But experts still don't agree on how safe it is or how well it works.
Some medical experts don't recommend marijuana because:
Marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, can harm your lungs.
Marijuana can harm your memory, judgment, and ability to process information. That can affect your ability to do things like driving a car or studying.
There are other legal drugs that may work just as well, such as new kinds of pain and nausea medicines.
Other medical experts sometimes do recommend marijuana because:
It can provide pain relief when normal pain medicines don't work or have unwanted side effects.
It can improve appetite and relieve nausea in people who have cancer or AIDS.
It can decrease eye pressure in people with glaucoma.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you are using medical marijuana. If you're pregnant, it's best to avoid alcohol and drugs, including marijuana.
How do you use medical marijuana?
Marijuana is usually smoked. It can also be brewed into tea, vaporized, applied to the skin, or eaten—usually mixed into food recipes.
Your mood, behaviour, and ability to function may be affected for hours after you take marijuana. How quickly you feel the effects of marijuana—and how long the effects last—depends on:
How much you've taken.
How you've taken it.
The kind of marijuana you use.
How your own body is affected by it.
Side effects include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and red eyes.
Is it addictive?
Some people who regularly use marijuana become addicted. This means that they keep using marijuana even though it's having harmful effects on their lives.
If you've been using marijuana regularly and then quit, you may have withdrawal symptoms.
These may include:
Anxiety.
Trouble sleeping.
Craving marijuana.
Are there alternatives to medical marijuana?
Doctors can prescribe a legal alternative called nabilone (Cesamet). This drug contains a man-made form of THC, the main chemical in marijuana.
Nabilone is used to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. It comes in pill form.
Talk to your doctor if you think these medicines might help relieve your symptoms.
Is synthetic marijuana safe?
Synthetic marijuana, or synthetic cannabinoids, are sold as substances having effects like those of marijuana. These drugs, sold in the form of bath salts or incense, are made in labs and have many names, such as K2 or Spice. Even though they are labelled "not for human consumption," people are more likely to try them since they are easily bought in stores and online and can't be detected by drug screenings. Also, people think they will feel the same as when they use marijuana. But these drugs are not safe and are stronger than marijuana.
Anxiety.
Trouble sleeping.
Craving marijuana.
Are there alternatives to medical marijuana?
Doctors can prescribe a legal alternative called nabilone (Cesamet). This drug contains a man-made form of THC, the main chemical in marijuana.
Nabilone is used to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. It comes in pill form.
Talk to your doctor if you think these medicines might help relieve your symptoms.
Is synthetic marijuana safe?
Synthetic marijuana, or synthetic cannabinoids, are sold as substances having effects like those of marijuana. These drugs, sold in the form of bath salts or incense, are made in labs and have many names, such as K2 or Spice. Even though they are labelled "not for human consumption," people are more likely to try them since they are easily bought in stores and online and can't be detected by drug screenings. Also, people think they will feel the same as when they use marijuana. But these drugs are not safe and are stronger than marijuana.
Some people have reported severe symptoms, such as:
Faster heart rate and higher blood pressure.
Agitation or anxiety.
Vomiting.
Increased paranoia.
Hallucinations.
Seizures.
Faster heart rate and higher blood pressure.
Agitation or anxiety.
Vomiting.
Increased paranoia.
Hallucinations.
Seizures.
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