Question Period Note: CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES

• The health and wellness of Veterans and their families is at the core of all that is done at Veterans Affairs.

• In November 2016, Veterans Affairs Canada introduced a reimbursement policy on cannabis for medical purposes.

• Veterans Affairs Canada reimburses up to a maximum rate of $8.50 per gram and three grams per day – this is over $9,000 per year to support this treatment.

• In exceptional cases with the appropriate supporting medical documents, Veterans Affairs Canada will reimburse more than three grams per day.

BACKGROUND: CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES

In November 2016, Veterans Affairs Canada’s reimbursement policy for cannabis for medical purposes established a maximum three gram per day limit.

To introduce more rigour to the Department’s approach, an exceptional approval process was developed as part of the reimbursement policy. Reimbursement requests for more than three grams per day may only be approved when supporting documentation is provided from a medical specialist with expertise in the Veteran’s diagnosed condition.

Each claim is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the medical specialist’s supporting document must include: the medical rationale for the use of cannabis for medical purposes for the Veteran’s condition(s); the specific quantity over three grams per day being recommended; a list of contraindications that were considered and confirmed absent; and a list of alternative treatments that were tried, and why ineffective or contraindicated.

In October 2018, Health Canada’s Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations came into effect, providing legal access to recreational cannabis for Canadians. On October 17, 2019, Schedule 4 of the Cannabis Act was amended to add three new classes of cannabis – edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals – that can be legally sold by federal licensed sellers and provincial and territorial retailers authorized by Health Canada.

Prior to October 17, 2019, the Department reimbursed eligible Veterans for dried cannabis for medical purposes, or its equivalent in fresh cannabis or cannabis oil. With the coming-into-force of revised Health Canada Cannabis Regulations on October 17, 2019, the Department now also reimburses Veterans for products belonging to three new classes – edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals.

For the first five months of 2019-2020 (April 1 – August 31), Veterans Affairs Canada expenditures for cannabis for medical purposes were approximately $38 million for 11,136 Veterans.

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