How to Apply
How to Apply to the Office of Cannabis Medical Access (OCMA) or Medical Marijuana Access Division (MMAD)
It's important to us that you clearly understand the process and become familiar with the forms you're expected to complete to be licensed by Health Canada and participate in our program.
Talk to your Doctor
First, you need your doctor's support. Go into his/her office prepared with the following:
• Clearly identify the symptoms you feel you can better manage with cannabis.
• Explain how you are using cannabis (or want to use cannabis) to manage your symptoms. Your doctor will want to understand how you are using or plan on using cannabis and what effect this is having or will have on your symptoms and well-being. Tell your doctor whether you are smoking it, eating it, or using it in some other form, how much and how often you are using cannabis. Be prepared to explain how cannabis is relieving your symptoms and to say how much cannabis you use, in grams per day. If you have never used cannabis before, get informed. Speak to others who do use it to manage their symptoms.
• Make a list of medicines and therapies you have tried for these symptoms, and identify which has worked and which has not worked.
• Ask your doctor to consider signing the Release Form For a Medical Practitioner from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA). The CMPA is the medical professional’s insurer and signing this form may alleviate some of your doctor’s concerns about liability. Note:This form is not valid in Quebec. This is NOT a Health Canada form and is NOT required to obtain an authorization to possess cannabis. It may however be useful in getting your physician to support your application.
To see the full list of tips on how to talk to your doctor, consult this detailed guideline from the Canadian Aids Society to ensure you're asking the appropriate questions and talking to your doctor appropriately.
Completing the Forms
All the forms discussed below can easily be found on Health Canada's Site.
Your doctor's task is to help you determine your prescription size and complete the forms provided by Health Canada. Depending on which category you fall into, your doctor will have to help you fill in Form A and either Form B1 or B2.
If you are only applying to possess marijuana for medical purposes, forms A and B must be completed. If you are applying to both possess and grow your own marijuana for medical purposes, forms A, B, C , (and E, if applicable) must be completed. If you are applying to possess dried marijuana for medical purposes and would like another person to grow the marijuana for you, forms A, B, D (and E if applicable) must be completed.
The application form must be accompanied by two passport sized photographs, to be used on an identification card issued to applicants authorized to possess. The card can be shown to a police officer as evidence that the person is permitted to possess marijuana.
Processing Times
Health Canada is currently taking longer to process applications due to an increase in the number of applications and a lack of government funding. They should acknowledge receipt of the application within 3-5 weeks of receiving it and will indicate if any of the required information is missing. Applications from patients with terminal conditions will be given priority for processing.
Processing time for the application will vary depending on the nature of the applicant's medical condition, and whether all of the necessary information has been received, this can take up to 7 months.
Applicants who are approved will be notified in writing. Many doctors/health professionals may insist that you have previously tried all the mainstream drugs and pharmaceuticals first, for your medical condition, before prescribing marijuana. But that doesn't mean you are required to take them.
To speed up the application let us hook you up with a designated grower so you can include those forms with the rest - it will go faster if you don't submit the grower forms separately.
If you have any questions on how to apply to be part of Health Canada's medical marijuana program or want to have us match you with a grower for the application process, please contact us.
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