Yes, certainly.
Evidence of meeting #64 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was medical.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #64 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was medical.
A video is available from Parliament.
Noon
Director, Practice Development and Knowledge Translation, Canadian Pharmacists Association
Secondly, I agree with you. Pharmacists are concerned, as others are, about the potential risks of smoking marijuana and all substances, and the toxicity associated with doing that. As others on the panel have mentioned, other forms of marijuana are available. The research is evolving around them.
Noon
Liberal
John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON
Just to be clear, you are here to make the case for pharmacists selling medical marijuana. Is that what you're—
Noon
Director, Practice Development and Knowledge Translation, Canadian Pharmacists Association
For pharmacists dispensing medical marijuana....
Noon
Liberal
John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON
Dispensing medical marijuana: okay.
How do you reconcile that with the CMA's position that medical marijuana should be eliminated now that this bill's coming forward?
Noon
Director, Practice Development and Knowledge Translation, Canadian Pharmacists Association
With other medical professionals and patients, I think we're all aligned on the fact that we agree that there needs to be an increase in the level of robust evidence around the therapeutic effects and risks of marijuana. In spite of that, we've noticed over the last number of years that patients are deriving benefit from these medications. I've heard these stories anecdotally when I've worked at the neighbourhood pharmacy. I've talked to many patients when I've worked in the hospital. They have told me about the compelling benefit they receive currently.
These patients, in spite of the lack of evidence and regulatory approval, are still using these medications without any medical oversight. They may be getting a document from a physician. They are having their marijuana then mailed to them through a mail-order distributor. I'm not aware if there is consultation with health care professionals, but there is no face-to-face contact with a health care professional as pharmacists provide. In the interest of patients' safety, we feel that it's important for us to be a strong part of that circle of care.
Noon
Liberal
John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON
Thank you.
Just coming back to the distribution system, my understanding is that the legislation would leave it with the provinces and territories to license the distribution and retail strategies. In Ontario it's just been announced that the LCBO has been selected to do about 150 stores, I think. They would have a distribution network and retail system. I'm sure other provinces have like structures in place. What made you feel that the pharmacy distribution system management would be better than, say, the LCBO?
Noon
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management
First of all, many of the other provinces considered their alcohol distribution systems and then backed away from them, because they recognized that a lot of retroactive investment will have to be made into it.
When it comes to the movement of the products, I think the pharmaceutical distributors industry stands out in its ability to already track the product and also in its ability to recall the product and get it back in as quickly as we do. I think the level of controls and the level of security around the products are second to none. I always like to ask people if they can think of the last time they heard about pharmaceutical products being diverted in Canada. The answer is that they can't, because it's such a closed system. Greater than 95% of products go through this system.
I think the main reasons we present that are that it is so strong, it is so secure, and it is so comprehensive. Remember as well that we deliver to many small communities where there aren't LCBOs.
Noon
Liberal
John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON
Yes. Thank you for that.
I just want to thank the two chairs for the study that's been done. My question to you is an open-ended one. We're here to study the legislation. We've talked a bit about edibles and concentrates. Is there anything that you feel the legislation missed? If you think about the three goals—to protect youth, to combat organized crime, and to have a public health and safety focus in the production of cannabis—is there anything that you think has been missed in the legislation that you would very much like to have seen added or included?
12:05 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP, As an Individual
You've already heard from me on edibles.
12:05 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP, As an Individual
Let me say that it is my understanding that the government is going to move on edibles.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
12:05 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP, As an Individual
It is just that they need time to do some equivalency testing and other kinds of things.
But you've heard me on edibles.
12:05 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP, As an Individual
There, I gave you 30 seconds to think about it.
12:05 p.m.
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, As an Individual
Thank you.
It's challenging. I think “time” was the key word that Anne used. We all recognize that the complexity of implementing legislation like this is enormous. The more you scratch it, the more you realize how deep it goes into every sector of society. We all know that whatever measures are put forward initially, whether they be federal or provincial, will be starting points and will need to evolve.
I think what I missed was the strong feeling that there was an engaged network of research and science to help inform this. You will run into this time and time again, this evidence base, and we have the capacity to do that. I'd like to have seen a bit more support for that network to be able to inform this, recognizing that this is an organic program, that this will evolve, and that this has to reflect and respond to changes, as we saw it had to do in other jurisdictions. While I don't think it was legislated, I think that's something that I'd like to see a lot more support for.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bill Casey
That's time, Mr. Oliver.
That completes our seven-minute rounds.
We will start our five-minute rounds with Mr. Webber.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll address most of my questions to a fellow Albertan, the Honourable Anne McLellan.
12:05 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP, As an Individual
It's nice to see you again.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB
Actually, I think the time you were elected, we lost our Currie Barracks to you up in Edmonton because of the fact that we didn't elect any Liberals down in Calgary, so we blame you for it.
12:05 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP, As an Individual
Yes, but just remember the oil sands.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB
Sure.
On another note, I'm very interested in your travels and your experience down in Colorado and Washington. You mentioned a progress update that they've released down there. Through the chair and to the clerk, if we could get a copy of that progress update, that would be very helpful. I would hope that, in fact, we can.