New rules will enhance oversight of marijuana for medical purposes authorizations

Increasing information sharing by licensed producers with Canadian healthcare licensing bodies

OTTAWA, June 10, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, announced the coming into force of amendments to the Narcotic Control Regulations and the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations to further strengthen public health and safety.

The new measures respond to requests from medical licensing bodies to increase the information available to them on how doctors are authorizing marijuana.  

The regulations require licensed producers of marijuana for medical purposes to provide quarterly reports to healthcare licensing bodies, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, on how healthcare practitioners are authorizing the use of marijuana. The reports will be provided at the request of the provincial and territorial medical and nurse licensing bodies, allowing them to more effectively monitor the professional practice of their members so that they can provide better education, guidance and monitoring and enhance overall patient safety.

These amended regulations are in line with provincial and territorial monitoring programs for other narcotics. The amendments will be published in Canada Gazette, Part II, on June 17, 2015.

Quick Facts

• Marijuana is not an approved drug or medicine in Canada and Health Canada does not endorse or promote the use of marijuana.
• Healthcare licensing bodies oversee the professional practice of medicine and nursing across all jurisdictions in Canada.
• The quarterly reports will include information such as daily quantity of marijuana prescribed, period of use and the date the document was signed by the healthcare practitioner.
• Marijuana has the potential for abuse, misuse and diversion for non-medical purposes.
• These amendments will help healthcare licensing bodies monitor for high dosages, multiple medical authorities and multiple registrations with licensed producers.

Quotes

"The new regulations will further strengthen public health and safety and address the concerns of healthcare licensing bodies for more oversight in this area. We will continue to work with the licensing bodies to ensure the integrity of the marijuana for medical purposes program."
Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health

"The members of FMRAC across the country are pleased with the new regulations that allow access to information to support their monitoring of the professional practice of physicians regarding marijuana for medical purposes. This positive development will help enhance public health and safety."
Dr. Trevor Theman
Immediate Past-President, Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada 
Registrar, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta

"Narcotic and prescription monitoring plays an important role in ensuring quality care and patient safety. The new regulations respond to concerns from the medical regulatory authorities and will support them in monitoring how marijuana for medical purposes is authorized for patients."
Dr. Rocco Gerace
Registrar
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Associated Links
Information Bulletin – Amendments to the Narcotic Control Regulations and the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (Communication of Information)

Directive on the Electronic Transmission of Information Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 

SOURCE Health Canada

Michael Bolkenius, Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, [phone]; Health Canada, Media Relations, [phone]; Public Inquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709