After over a decade at Health Canada and as a lawyer, I advocate for patients who use medicinal cannabis. In fact, I use cannabidiol, or CBD, to successfully ease the complex regional pain syndrome that I suffer from as a result of breast cancer treatment.
The issue of low rates is a major challenge for the patients we are representing here today, as medicinal cannabis is the most effective medication to treat their illness.
First, we recommend that cannabis for medical purposes be tax-exempt. When a patient purchases prescription drugs and medical necessities, they are exempt under federal law. Since medicinal cannabis meets those criteria, the government should allow the removal of sales tax, making it more affordable.
Next, we are calling for policies and programs to facilitate the coverage of medicinal cannabis costs under public and private regimes. We recommend that the government approve cannabis as a therapeutic product, including giving it a drug identification number, to facilitate reimbursement.
Basically, patients who use cannabis to treat their physical or psychological condition feel discriminated against. The government makes a distinction between these patients and those who use conventional medications, such as opioids, to treat the same disease. As a result, the patient is often forced to use an opiate instead of cannabis because it is less affordable.
Taxation and non-reimbursement of medicinal cannabis represent undue hardship for patients. Improving the rights of patients who use medicinal cannabis must remain at the heart of the discussions.
I would like to thank committee members for giving me the opportunity to address them today.