ARCHIVED - Frequently Asked Questions

This content was archived on August 24, 2016.

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• For Clients
• For Licensed Producers and Licensed Producer Applicants
• For Healthcare Practitioners
• For Police / Law Enforcement
• For Municipalities

For Clients

How do I find out how much a licensed producer is charging for marijuana?

You must contact the licensed producer directly for pricing information. A list of licensed producers and their contact information is maintained on the List of Authorized Licensed Producers web page on the Health Canada website.

How do I register with a licensed producer using a medical document?

If your healthcare practitioner supports the use of marijuana for medical purposes in your case, he/she must complete a medical document on your behalf.

You must also contact the licensed producer to obtain a registration form, if required, to complete and submit along with your medical document. The registration form and medical document must be submitted directly to the licensed producer. Do not send your medical document or registration form to Health Canada.

For more information, see Procedures for Accessing Marijuana for Medical Purposes.

Are licensed producers only allowed to produce/sell dried marijuana?

Yes. Licensed producers are allowed to provide dried marijuana for medical purposes.

Do licensed producers sell a variety of strains?

Yes. Please contact licensed producers for additional information.

Is the marijuana produced by licensed producers quality controlled?

Licensed producers are required to follow the Technical Specifications for Testing Dried Marihuana for Medical Purposes. This document is available on the Health Canada website and outlines the conditions that must be met for quality assurance. Health Canada inspects licensed producers to ensure they meet the requirements of the regulations, including these specifications.

How much do licensed producers charge per gram?

Licensed producers are responsible for setting their own prices. Please contact licensed producers directly for this type of information.

Is there a limit to how much marijuana I can possess at any point in time?

Yes. Under the  Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations there is a possession cap of either 30 times the daily quantity of dried marijuana indicated by your healthcare practitioner on your medical document, or 150 grams of dried marijuana, whichever is less. You cannot possess or store an amount of marijuana that exceeds this amount.

General Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) Q&A

Are the MMAR still in force?

No. The MMAR were repealed on March 31, 2014; however, as a result of a Federal Court Order granted on March 21, 2014, individuals who were previously authorized to possess and produce marijuana under the MMAR, and who meet the terms of the Court Order, will be able to continue to do so on an interim basis until the Court reaches a final decision. As ordered by the Court, individuals with an Authorization to Possess (ATP) valid on March 21, 2014, may hold a maximum quantity of dried marijuana as specified by their ATP or 150 grams, whichever is less.

Can Personal-Use Production Licence (PUPL) and Designated-Person Production Licence (DPPL) holders continue to grow plants?

If your licence falls under the Federal Court Order, you may be able to continue to grow marijuana plants. The Federal Court Order applies to PUPLs and DPPLs that were valid on or after September 30, 2013, and were connected to a related ATP that was valid on, or after, March 21, 2014. PUPLs and DPPLs that fall under the Court Order will remain in place with the same terms and conditions as identified on their licence. Note that address, number of plants, storage amounts, etc. cannot be changed. Additionally, note that the 150 gram possession cap now applies.

Health Canada does not provide legal advice as to the validity of licences or authorizations under the MMAR. Individuals wishing to determine whether they fall under the Federal Court Order should seek independent legal advice.

My licence was revoked - can I get it back?

If Health Canada has revoked your authorization or licence prior to March 21, 2014, you do not fall within the terms of the Federal Court Order and it cannot be reinstated or reissued. Health Canada will not issue new ones or amend existing ATPs, PUPLs, or DPPLs.

If your ATP was revoked prior to March 21, 2014, the associated PUPL/DPPL cannot be reinstated or reissued.

Will Health Canada provide ATP/PUPL/DPPL paperwork from Health Canada?

If your authorization or licence falls within the terms of the Federal Court Order, Health Canada can send you a reprint of your existing licence. Please note your licence is only extended in accordance with the terms under which it was originally issued (no change of address, number of plants, storage amounts, etc.).

Will Health Canada issue a new ATP/PUPL/DPPL?

Effective March 31, 2014, the MMAR are repealed. Health Canada therefore cannot issue new authorizations or licences under the MMAR. If your authorization or licence falls within the terms of the Federal Court Order, Health Canada can send you a reprint of your existing licence upon request. Dates and addresses will not be amended.

I have a PUPL or DPPL. How does the 150 gram limit apply to me?

Plant and storage amounts remain as noted on your PUPL or DPPL. Under the new regulations, individuals who are registered with a licensed producer may possess the lesser of a 30-day supply of dried marijuana or 150 grams of dried marijuana. As part of the Federal Court Order, an ATP holder may hold a maximum quantity of dried marijuana as specified by their ATP or 150 grams, whichever is less.

I have a valid ATP with Health Canada supply. Does the Federal Court Order apply to me?

Health Canada no longer supplies marijuana for medical purposes.

The Court Order addresses individuals who meet two criteria:

• Individuals must have held a valid ATP under the MMAR on March 21, 2014
  OR
• Individuals must have held a valid PUPL or DPPL under the MMAR on, or after, September 30, 2013, AND related ATP valid on, or after March 21, 2014.

If you and your healthcare practitioner determine that you require access to marijuana for medical purposes you may register with a licensed producer. For more information, visit the Procedures for Accessing Marijuana for Medical Purposes web page.

My source of supply is a DPPL. Can I switch my designated person?

No. Your licence is only extended in accordance with the terms under which it was originally issued. If you no longer want your designated person to produce marijuana on your behalf, you may seek to register with a licensed producer under the  MMPR.

Can I change my source of supply?

If you are unsatisfied with your source of supply you may seek to register with a licensed producer under the  MMPR.

I've moved. Can I change my ATP/licence?

No. The MMAR were repealed on March 31, 2014, and Health Canada is no longer processing any new ATPs/licences or amending existing documents.

The licence or authorization is only extended in accordance with the terms under which it was originally issued (address, number of plants, storage amounts, etc.). You cannot transfer your licence or authorization to a different address.

How will I prove to police that I am still allowed to possess/produce marijuana for medical purposes?

You can demonstrate legal possession of marijuana for medical purposes by presenting your ATP/PUPL/DPPL to police. Note that lawful possession/production is limited to what is specified in your ATP/PUPL/DPPL. If the officer is unaware of the injunction order, he/she may call Health Canada to verify certain authorization or licence information.

Can I still buy Health Canada supply?

No. The MMAR were repealed on March 31, 2014, and Health Canada no longer sells marijuana for medical purposes. If you and your healthcare practitioner determine that you require access to marijuana for medical purposes, you may seek to register with a licensed producer. For more information, visit the Procedures for Accessing Marijuana for Medical Purposes web page.

For Licensed Producers and Licensed Producer Applicants

Further guidance and information is available for licensed producers on the Guidance, Directives, Policy, and Information Bulletins web page.

Where can I obtain the application form to become a licensed producer?

The application form and application guidance documents are available on the Licensed Producers web page.

What are the requirements to become a licensed producer?

To become a licensed producer, you must meet all requirements of the  MMPR, including but not limited to:

• obtaining the proper personnel security clearances;
• meeting the physical security requirements for the cultivation and storage areas; and
• submitting a completed licensed producer application.

For further information, please refer to the Licensed Producers and the Guidance, Directives, Policy and Information Bulletins web page.

If you have any questions about these requirements or the application process, you can send us your questions by email to MMPR-RMFM@hc-sc.gc.ca or call us toll-free at 1-866-337-7705.

Once complete, your application must be submitted to the following address:

Controlled Drugs Section
Licences and Permits Division
Office of Controlled Substances
Controlled Substances and Tobacco Directorate
Health Canada
Address Locator: 0300B
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0K9

All relevant sections of the application form must be completed and all required documents must be submitted. An incomplete application will not be processed and will be returned to you.

What activities are permitted under a licence?

A licensed producer may only conduct the activities indicated on their licence. Each licence obtained under the  MMPR will specify the activities authorized to be conducted at the site. Authorized activities can include production, sale or provision, possession, packaging and transportation.

The licence will also indicate:

• substances that are authorized;
• maximum quantities of dried marijuana that may be produced, sold or provided;
• maximum dried marijuana inventory at any given time;
• security level of the site; and
• effective date and expiry date of the licence.

In some cases, specific conditions may also be listed on a licence. For more information, visit the Policies, Directives, Guidance and Information Bulletins web page.

What document(s) are required for a licensed producer to register a client?

As a licensed producer, when registering and renewing clients you must ensure:

• an original medical document has been submitted as part of the application for registration;
• the accuracy of the information in the medical document by verifying the information contained on the document with the supporting healthcare practitioner (as per section 110(c) of the MMPR) each time a medical document is received; and
• the documentation of these verifications as part of your record keeping obligations (Part 6 of the MMPR). For more information on the requirement to confirm the validity of the medical document, please reference the Medical Documents information bulletin.

A licensed producer may also require clients to provide additional supporting documentation.

Once my company registers a client who submitted their Authorization to Possess, what do I do with this document?

Once the client has been successfully registered, you must send a copy of the Authorization to Possess document to Health Canada at the following address:

Office of Medical Cannabis
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
Address Locator: 0300A
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0K9

Please note that March 31, 2015, was the last date on which a client could register using an ATP in place of a medical document.

If a client is registered by a licensed producer and the healthcare practitioner who signed the medical document has subsequently lost privileges regarding dried marijuana, how will this impact the licensed producer?

In accordance with paragraph  117(1)(e) of the MMPR, all orders must be cancelled from the day that the licensed producer receives the notification from Health Canada. The licensed producer may not continue to ship dried marijuana to any clients who submitted a medical document signed by the healthcare practitioner. The client must find a new healthcare practitioner and initiate a new registration process by submitting a new medical document. Only when the new registration is accepted will the licensed producer will be allowed to sell or provide dried marijuana to the client.

Is there a restriction on how much I can charge patients for dried marijuana?

Licensed producers set their own prices.

What is the maximum quantity that a licensed producer may ship to a client?

An individual who obtains dried marijuana for their own medical purpose or for those of another individual for whom they are responsible must not possess a quantity of dried marijuana that exceeds the limits specified in  Section 5 of the MMPR.

• The maximum quantity of dried marijuana that licensed producers may ship to a client in any 30-day period is limited to 30 times the daily quantity (expressed in grams) specified in the client's medical document.
• No shipment of dried marijuana may exceed 150 grams.
• Licensed producers may ship more frequently than once a month as long as each shipment is not more than 150 grams and the total amount shipped within the 30-day period is not more than the 30 times the daily quantity specified in the client's medical document.

What strains of dried marijuana can I cultivate under a production licence?

The  MMPR do not specify or limit what strains of dried marijuana can be cultivated.

Can I sell cannabis resins, oils, extractions, and edible marijuana products?

No. The  MMPR only permit the sale of dried marijuana.

Can a production site be located outdoors?

Production sites can only be located indoors.

Can I operate a storefront?

No.

Do municipal zoning by-laws apply to my production site?

Licensed producers must comply with all federal, provincial/territorial and municipal laws and by-laws, including municipal zoning by-laws. Licensed producers are required to notify their local government, local police force, and local fire officials of their intention to apply to Health Canada, so that local authorities are aware of their proposed location and activities. Licensed producers are also required to communicate with local authorities whenever there is a change in the status of their licence.

For more information, reference the Compliance with Local Laws information bulletin.

When do I need to renew my licence?

Licensed producers should apply to renew their licence a minimum of three months before the licence is set to expire. A licensed producer cannot conduct activities involving cannabis without a valid licence.

For Healthcare Practitioners

What evidence is available concerning the use of marijuana for medical purposes?

Please refer to the document entitled Information for Healthcare Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the Cannabinoids for the latest information on the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

How does my patient access marijuana?

Using a medical document completed by their healthcare practitioner, your patient must send the original medical document to a licensed producer with a registration form (provided by the licensed producer). The licensed producer will fill and ship your patient's order, based on the daily amount of dried marijuana indicated on the medical document.

What is the difference between Form B and a medical document?

Form B "Medical Practitioner's Form" is the outdated document under the old regulations and should not be used.

Are there daily amount and duration restrictions under the MMPR?

Various surveys published in peer-reviewed literature suggest that the majority of people using inhaled or orally-ingested cannabis for medical purposes are using less than 3 grams of cannabis per day. Please refer to the Health Canada Daily Amount Fact Sheet (Dosage) for additional information.

While there are no restrictions under the  MMPR on the daily amount that you may recommend, there is a possession cap of the lesser of 150 grams or 30 times the daily amount.

The medical document must be completed annually (or sooner if you recommend a shorter duration) to ensure that you continue to support your patient's use of marijuana.

Please consult Information for Healthcare Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the Cannabinoids for further information.

What routes of administration can I recommend for my patient?

Please consult Information for Healthcare Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the Cannabinoids for further information.

Typically, dried marijuana is inhaled. Smoking is not recommended. Some individuals use their dried marijuana with a vaporizer or in teas.

Is there information available that indicates which strains are better suited to certain conditions?

Please consult Information for Healthcare Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the Cannabinoids for further information.

Will dried marijuana be assigned a Drug Identification Number (DIN)?

Drugs are authorized for sale in Canada (and receive a DIN) once they have successfully gone through the drug review process. This process is the means by which Health Canada scientists review a drug application to assess the safety, efficacy, and quality of a drug in order to make sure the drug meets the requirements of the  Food and Drugs Act (FDA) and its regulations. With the exception of Sativex® and Cesamet®, which have received Notices of Compliance authorizing their sale as therapeutic products in Canada, scientific studies do not demonstrate that marijuana is safe and effective for medical use to the extent required by the  Food and Drug Regulations for marketed drugs in Canada. Except with respect to the above-mentioned drugs, at present no applicants have obtained approval under the FDA and its regulations, with respect to marijuana. As such, there can be no DIN associated with marijuana for medical purposes. However, marijuana for medical purposes is legally accessible by registering directly with a licensed producer under the terms of the  MMPR.

Where can I obtain information on the product my patient is considering?

You may contact the licensed producer(s) directly to obtain information about the strain(s) of dried marijuana available. Each product label must include the percentage of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and percentage of Cannabidiol (CBD) in the lot and batch that is being sold.

A list of licensed producers and their contact information is maintained on the Licensed Producers web page.

Please consult Information for Healthcare Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the Cannabinoids, which contains updated information on the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

For Police / Law Enforcement

Is Health Canada issuing new licences under MMAR?

As of April 1, 2014, Health Canada is not issuing further licences to individuals. If an ATP was revoked, the associated PUPL/DPPL does not fall within the terms of the Federal Court Order.

Does the police service line still work?

The police service line will continue to operate.

Who can I contact if I am investigating someone who may or may not be authorized under the MMPR?

If an individual presents you with the packaging or a document included in their order of dried marijuana from a licensed producer, you may contact the licensed producer to confirm the registration and the daily quantity of dried marijuana. The licensed producer must confirm that you are a member of a Canadian police force, and the information must be requested in the context of an investigation under the  CDSA or the  MMPR, and you must provide the name of the individual, the date of birth, and the gender.

Is there a limit to the amount of dried marijuana someone can carry on their person under the MMPR?

Yes. The  MMPR impose a maximum possession cap of the lesser of 150 grams of dried marijuana or 30 times their daily authorized amount at any one time. For example, if an individual has a daily amount of 2 grams per day, their possession cap would be 60 grams.

As well, as ordered by the Court, individuals with an ATP valid on March 21, 2014, may hold a maximum quantity of dried marijuana as specified by their ATP or 150 grams, whichever is less.

For Municipalities

Are licensed producers subject to local legislation and by-laws?

Licensed producers must comply with all federal, provincial/territorial and municipal laws and by-laws, including municipal zoning by-laws. Licensed producers are required to notify their local government, local police force, and local fire officials of their intention to apply to Health Canada, so that local authorities are aware of their proposed location and activities. Licensed producers are also required to communicate with local authorities whenever there is a change in the status of their licence. Health Canada inspects for compliance with the MMPR, the  Narcotic Control Regulations, and other related regulations under the  CDSA.

For more information, reference the Compliance with Local Laws information bulletin.

Can municipalities stop the licensing process if they disagree with the proposed site of production or any other requirement?

Local authorities can communicate any concerns directly to the production site owner and enforce local legislation and by-laws.

For more information, reference the Compliance with Local Laws information bulletin.

Can compassion clubs dispense for a licensed producer?

No. Licensed producers must ship dried marijuana directly to the client, to an individual responsible for the client, or to the client's healthcare practitioner (if indicated).