43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée21 juin 2021432-00924432-00924 (Santé)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNPDBC6 mai 202121 juin 202115 février 2021Pétition au gouvernement du CanadaAttendu que :
  • Santé Canada a reçu une demande (no 10-MM0330) de licence pour un établissement de marijuana à des fins médicales au 7827 Beaver Creek Rd., à Port Alberni, en Colombie-Britannique;
  • Cet établissement de la taille d’un Walmart serait situé directement en face (à 174 m) de Kackaamin, un centre de guérison pour toxicomanie et traumatismes familiaux offrant des traitements à des adultes et logeant leur famille entière, où se trouvent également une garderie dument accréditée et une école de la maternelle à la 12e année;
  • Kackaamin se consacre au travail de guérison faisant suite à notre histoire commune de colonialisme et de pensionnats;
  • Kackaamin n’a jamais été consulté lors de la planification initiale de cet établissement, et avait demandé qu’il s’installe ailleurs;
  • L’objet de la Loi sur le cannabis est de « protéger la santé et la sécurité publiques »;
  • Le gouvernement a des obligations dans le cadre de la Réconciliation, de la DNUDPA et des Appels à l’action de la CVR.
Nous, les soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, prions la ministre de la Santé de :
  • Reconnaître le racisme implicite des choix stratégiques de Santé Canada en ce qui concerne son processus d’octroi de licence pour le cannabis et le traitement de ce dossier;
  • Se conformer à l’objet de la Loi sur le cannabis et au principe de réconciliation;
  • Accélérer l’examen de ce dossier et d’annuler toutes les licences de cannabis et demandes de licences au 7827, 7825 et 7821 Beaver Creek Rd., Port Alberni, Colombie-Britannique, au titre de l’alinéa 62(7)g) de la Loi sur le cannabis « dans l’intérêt public »;
  • Présenter des excuses à Kackaamin et confirmer son engagement envers la DNUDPA et les Appels à l’action de la CVR.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellThe Government of Canada is committed to a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership. Health Canada works closely with Indigenous leaders, organizations and communities across the country to consider carefully any cannabis-related interests and to advance shared objectives of protecting public health and safety.Due to Access to Information and Privacy laws, Health Canada is unable to disclose personal information or information provided by a third party, including the status of any licence application, unless granted consent. However, the Department has engaged specifically with representatives of the Kackaamin Family Development Centre, the City of Port Alberni, and the Province of British Columbia in the interest of promoting understanding and discussing community concerns.The Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations create a strict framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada. The purpose of the Act is to protect public health and public safety by keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth and profits out of the pockets of criminals, and providing adults with legal access to a quality-controlled source of cannabis. In order to achieve these aims, any licence application for medical marijuana facilities undergo a thorough and rigorous review, and any approved facilities are subject to strict enforcement measures.Before submitting an application, an applicant must provide written notice of their intentions to the local authorities. The Department processes licence applications in the order received, and begins its review only after the applicant has submitted a complete application, including a site-evidence package that demonstrates that the site is fully built and compliant with the stringent requirements set out in the Act and Regulations. Some of the criteria by which Health Canada assesses an application include:
  • the physical security measures at the site;
  • the processes that will be used for the building and the equipment to help ensure that cannabis meets quality standards appropriate to its intended use;
  • the applicant’s demonstration of an air filtration system to prevent the escape of odours;
  • how the applicant will keep records of their activities with cannabis, such as records for tracking sales, product returns and product inventory; and,
  • the security profile of key personnel.
If Health Canada does issue a licence after this meticulous review, an applicant must comply with the Cannabis Regulations and all other applicable laws and is subject to any enforcement measures. These additional applicable laws include: local by-laws and fire codes; municipal, provincial and territorial laws, such as environmental or nuisance laws; as well as any by-laws/regulations made by a First Nation acting within their legal authority, if the application is for activities located on reserves. Health Canada possesses a range of enforcement tools to verify compliance, including inspections, to ensure that licensees produce, sell, and distribute cannabis in accordance with the Cannabis Regulations. Health Canada encourages licence applicants to undertake consultation and engagement with local communities to address any concerns or questions they may have about proposed cannabis production facilities. The stringent controls on the commercial cultivation, processing, and sale of quality-controlled cannabis strive to safeguard the public health and safety of communities. Applications for licenses can be refused under grounds outlined in the Regulations, especially if there is a special risk to public health or safety, such as the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity. Such determinations, however, can only be made once the review of an application is complete.
CannabisPermis et licencesPolitique autochtonePort Alberni
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée9 juin 2021432-00873432-00873 (Santé)BradVisMission—Matsqui—Fraser CanyonConservateurBC26 avril 20219 juin 202111 mars 2021PÉTITION AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADAATTENDU QUE : Les licences pour la production de cannabis à usage médical sont souvent utilisées de manière abusive, la production dépassant les quantités destinées à l’usage personnel étant détournée pour être vendue sur le marché noir; La quantité de cannabis qu’un individu est autorisé à posséder à des fins médicales est impossible à consommer personnellement; Les cultures dans les quartiers résidentiels ont des effets négatifs sur la santé et le bien-être des voisins, notamment des odeurs excessives, une circulation fréquente et une baisse de la valeur des propriétés; Les autorités municipales n’ont que peu ou pas de pouvoir sur les plantations de cannabis sur leur territoire;Le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas soumis la production de cannabis à usage médical enregistré à l’examen et à l’inspection, ce qui a permis aux opérations de culture de cannabis sur les marchés gris et noir de prospérer dans le cadre de ce programme.PAR CONSÉQUENT : Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions le gouvernement du Canada de revoir l’octroi de licences et la surveillance de la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, et d’accorder aux provinces les ressources et les pouvoirs nécessaires pour réglementer et faire respecter la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, en donnant à leur tour aux municipalités le pouvoir de réglementer et de faire respecter la loi.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellSuccessive court decisions established the right of individuals to have reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and have emphasized repeatedly that the government may only restrict an individual’s access to cannabis for medical purposes when such action is justified and consistent with the objective of protecting public health and safety. In response to these court decisions, a legal framework was established under the Cannabis Regulations that allows individuals with a signed medical document from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • purchasing quality-controlled cannabis from a wide variety of federally licensed sellers inspected by Health Canada;
  • producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, as authorized by their health care practitioner (“personal production”); or,
  • designating someone to produce it for them (“designated production”).
Subject to the legal age limit in their province or territory, they are also able to buy cannabis:
  • at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets; and/or,
  • through provincial or territorial authorized online sales platforms.
The majority of individuals (approximately 375,000) who access cannabis for medical purposes obtain cannabis from a seller licensed and inspected by Health Canada. A smaller number of individuals (approximately 43,000) produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them.Health Canada is committed to protecting patients’ rights to reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and recognizes that most patients are using the program for its intended purposes. Abuse of the medical framework undermines the integrity of the system that many patients rely on to access cannabis to address their medical needs.All persons authorized to produce cannabis for medical purposes must abide by the law and operate at all times within the limits set out when they were registered by Health Canada, including respecting their plant limits. Individuals are only authorized to produce and possess cannabis for their own medical purposes (or the individual they are designated to produce for), and it is illegal for them to distribute or sell cannabis to anyone else. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of their registration and/or criminal charges and prosecution.The Cannabis Regulations require patients to obtain an authorization from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada does not play a role in determining whether cannabis is appropriate for a patient. The health care practitioner makes this decision through a discussion with their patient; the health care practitioner will also identify the daily amount needed for the patient’s medical condition. Health Canada expects health care practitioners to make these decisions based on the condition for which the patient is receiving treatment and supporting evidence.Over the last years, Health Canada has increased engagement with the health care practitioner community and the provincial and territorial licensing bodies in order to encourage health care practitioners to authorize appropriate amounts of cannabis for medical purposes, in line with established standards of practice and the best available evidence. Health Canada has published a document entitled Information for Health Care Professionals to help patients and health care practitioners make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medical purposes, including dosage amounts. The Department continues to review the latest developments in the peer-reviewed scientific literature on dosing and will continue to publish further updates to this document.Regulatory oversight of health care practitioners and the practice of medicine is the responsibility of provinces and territories and professional colleges. Most provincial and territorial licensing bodies have their own set of standards and guidelines for their members, which may include standards of practice on authorizing cannabis for medical purposes. To support provincial and territorial licensing bodies in their oversight of their members, Health Canada has been proactively sharing data on the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes since the spring 2019. This data sharing includes providing specific information on the small number of health care practitioners who are responsible for authorizing large daily amounts of cannabis. In an effort to increase transparency, in December 2020, Health Canada began publishing data on its website on the average daily amounts authorized by health care practitioners.Health Canada actively works within the current regulatory framework to address risks associated with the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • conducting additional verifications when warranted (for example, contacting the health care practitioner to confirm the validity of the medical document and to confirm the daily dosage amount);
  • verifying that there are no more than four registrations at any given production site—the maximum allowed in the regulations—to reduce the risk of large-scale production sites;
  • refusing or revoking a registration, if it is determined that an applicant has submitted false or misleading information as part of their application, such as a forged medical document, or where the registration is likely to create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity; and,
  • conducting inspections of personal registration and designated production sites to further verify compliance with the regulations.
Most recently, on March 8, 2021, Health Canada launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document for the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes. The draft guidance provides proposed factors that may be considered in refusing or revoking a registration. The public consultation is open until May 7, 2021. It is important to note that different levels of government and law enforcement have roles in maintaining public safety with respect to cannabis. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce their bylaws with respect to cannabis production, and law enforcement has the authority to take action against illegal cannabis activity under the Cannabis Act and against those who operate outside of the legal framework.With each registration issued, Health Canada reminds registered individuals and designated producers that they need to comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, odour, electrical and fire safety, as well as all related inspection and remediation requirements.Health Canada encourages all provinces, territories, and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to confirm that individuals meet all standards and by-laws. This includes implementing any limitations on zoning, location and nuisances, such as odour, that they feel are appropriate in their jurisdictions. Municipalities could, for example, require building permits and inspections of electrical work at personal production sites.Health Canada supports law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated service 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes. The Cannabis Regulations authorize Health Canada to share information that is protected under the Privacy Act in the context of an active law enforcement investigation. In the context of an investigation, law enforcement also has the ability to enter residences and any production sites.The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister initiate a review of the Cannabis Act three years following the coming into force (i.e., by October 17, 2021), and that a report of the review’s findings be tabled before both Houses of Parliament within 18 months of the start of the review. The Government of Canada has also committed to actively monitoring and evaluating patients’ access to cannabis for medical purposes through the implementation of the Cannabis Act, and to undertake an evaluation of the existing medical access framework within five years (i.e., by October 17, 2023), as recommended by the expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. These two exercises will be an opportunity to address some of the challenges associated with the cannabis for medical purposes program.Health Canada is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders on the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act. Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders on all aspects of the cannabis framework to advance public health and safety objectives.
CannabisCultures agricolesRéglementationRelations fédérales-provinciales-territoriales
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée5 mai 2021432-00691432-00691 (Santé)MarcDaltonPitt Meadows—Maple RidgeConservateurBC22 mars 20215 mai 20214 mars 2021PÉTITION AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADAATTENDU QUE : Les licences pour la production de cannabis à usage médical sont souvent utilisées de manière abusive, la production dépassant les quantités destinées à l’usage personnel étant détournée pour être vendue sur le marché noir; La quantité de cannabis qu’un individu est autorisé à posséder à des fins médicales est impossible à consommer personnellement; Les cultures dans les quartiers résidentiels ont des effets négatifs sur la santé et le bien-être des voisins, notamment des odeurs excessives, une circulation fréquente et une baisse de la valeur des propriétés; Les autorités municipales n’ont que peu ou pas de pouvoir sur les plantations de cannabis sur leur territoire;Le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas soumis la production de cannabis à usage médical enregistré à l’examen et à l’inspection, ce qui a permis aux opérations de culture de cannabis sur les marchés gris et noir de prospérer dans le cadre de ce programme.PAR CONSÉQUENT : Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions le gouvernement du Canada de revoir l’octroi de licences et la surveillance de la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, et d’accorder aux provinces les ressources et les pouvoirs nécessaires pour réglementer et faire respecter la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, en donnant à leur tour aux municipalités le pouvoir de réglementer et de faire respecter la loi.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellSuccessive court decisions established the right of individuals to have reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and have emphasized repeatedly that the government may only restrict an individual’s access to cannabis for medical purposes when such action is justified and consistent with the objective of protecting public health and safety. In response to these court decisions, a legal framework was established under the Cannabis Regulations that allows individuals with a signed medical document from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • purchasing quality-controlled cannabis from a wide variety of federally licensed sellers inspected by Health Canada;
  • producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, as authorized by their health care practitioner (“personal production”); or,
  • designating someone to produce it for them (“designated production”).
Subject to the legal age limit in their province or territory, they are also able to buy cannabis:
  • at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets; and/or,
  • through provincial or territorial authorized online sales platforms.
The majority of individuals (approximately 375,000) who access cannabis for medical purposes obtain cannabis from a seller licensed and inspected by Health Canada. A smaller number of individuals (approximately 43,000) produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them.Health Canada is committed to protecting patients’ rights to reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and recognizes that most patients are using the program for its intended purposes. Abuse of the medical framework undermines the integrity of the system that many patients rely on to access cannabis to address their medical needs.All persons authorized to produce cannabis for medical purposes must abide by the law and operate at all times within the limits set out when they were registered by Health Canada, including respecting their plant limits. Individuals are only authorized to produce and possess cannabis for their own medical purposes (or the individual they are designated to produce for), and it is illegal for them to distribute or sell cannabis to anyone else. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of their registration and/or criminal charges and prosecution.The Cannabis Regulations require patients to obtain an authorization from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada does not play a role in determining whether cannabis is appropriate for a patient. The health care practitioner makes this decision through a discussion with their patient; the health care practitioner will also identify the daily amount needed for the patient’s medical condition. Health Canada expects health care practitioners to make these decisions based on the condition for which the patient is receiving treatment and supporting evidence.Over the last years, Health Canada has increased engagement with the health care practitioner community and the provincial and territorial licensing bodies in order to encourage health care practitioners to authorize appropriate amounts of cannabis for medical purposes, in line with established standards of practice and the best available evidence. Health Canada has published a document entitled Information for Health Care Professionals to help patients and health care practitioners make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medical purposes, including dosage amounts. The Department continues to review the latest developments in the peer-reviewed scientific literature on dosing and will continue to publish further updates to this document.Regulatory oversight of health care practitioners and the practice of medicine is the responsibility of provinces and territories and professional colleges. Most provincial and territorial licensing bodies have their own set of standards and guidelines for their members, which may include standards of practice on authorizing cannabis for medical purposes. To support provincial and territorial licensing bodies in their oversight of their members, Health Canada has been proactively sharing data on the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes since the spring 2019. This data sharing includes providing specific information on the small number of health care practitioners who are responsible for authorizing large daily amounts of cannabis. In an effort to increase transparency, in December 2020, Health Canada began publishing data on its website on the average daily amounts authorized by health care practitioners.Health Canada actively works within the current regulatory framework to address risks associated with the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • conducting additional verifications when warranted (for example, contacting the health care practitioner to confirm the validity of the medical document and to confirm the daily dosage amount);
  • verifying that there are no more than four registrations at any given production site—the maximum allowed in the regulations—to reduce the risk of large-scale production sites;
  • refusing or revoking a registration, if it is determined that an applicant has submitted false or misleading information as part of their application, such as a forged medical document, or where the registration is likely to create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity; and,
  • conducting inspections of personal registration and designated production sites to further verify compliance with the regulations.
Most recently, on March 8, 2021, Health Canada launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document for the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes. The draft guidance provides proposed factors that may be considered in refusing or revoking a registration. The public consultation is open until May 7, 2021. It is important to note that different levels of government and law enforcement have roles in maintaining public safety with respect to cannabis. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce their bylaws with respect to cannabis production, and law enforcement has the authority to take action against illegal cannabis activity under the Cannabis Act and against those who operate outside of the legal framework.With each registration issued, Health Canada reminds registered individuals and designated producers that they need to comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, odour, electrical and fire safety, as well as all related inspection and remediation requirements.Health Canada encourages all provinces, territories, and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to confirm that individuals meet all standards and by-laws. This includes implementing any limitations on zoning, location and nuisances, such as odour, that they feel are appropriate in their jurisdictions. Municipalities could, for example, require building permits and inspections of electrical work at personal production sites.Health Canada supports law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated service 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes. The Cannabis Regulations authorize Health Canada to share information that is protected under the Privacy Act in the context of an active law enforcement investigation. In the context of an investigation, law enforcement also has the ability to enter residences and any production sites.The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister initiate a review of the Cannabis Act three years following the coming into force (i.e., by October 17, 2021), and that a report of the review’s findings be tabled before both Houses of Parliament within 18 months of the start of the review. The Government of Canada has also committed to actively monitoring and evaluating patients’ access to cannabis for medical purposes through the implementation of the Cannabis Act, and to undertake an evaluation of the existing medical access framework within five years (i.e., by October 17, 2023), as recommended by the expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. These two exercises will be an opportunity to address some of the challenges associated with the cannabis for medical purposes program.Health Canada is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders on the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act. Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders on all aspects of the cannabis framework to advance public health and safety objectives.
CannabisCultures agricolesRéglementationRelations fédérales-provinciales-territoriales
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée26 avril 2021432-00663432-00663 (Santé)BradVisMission—Matsqui—Fraser CanyonConservateurBC11 mars 202126 avril 202110 mars 2021PÉTITION AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADAATTENDU QUE : Les licences pour la production de cannabis à usage médical sont souvent utilisées de manière abusive, la production dépassant les quantités destinées à l’usage personnel étant détournée pour être vendue sur le marché noir; La quantité de cannabis qu’un individu est autorisé à posséder à des fins médicales est impossible à consommer personnellement; Les cultures dans les quartiers résidentiels ont des effets négatifs sur la santé et le bien-être des voisins, notamment des odeurs excessives, une circulation fréquente et une baisse de la valeur des propriétés; Les autorités municipales n’ont que peu ou pas de pouvoir sur les plantations de cannabis sur leur territoire;Le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas soumis la production de cannabis à usage médical enregistré à l’examen et à l’inspection, ce qui a permis aux opérations de culture de cannabis sur les marchés gris et noir de prospérer dans le cadre de ce programme.PAR CONSÉQUENT : Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions le gouvernement du Canada de revoir l’octroi de licences et la surveillance de la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, et d’accorder aux provinces les ressources et les pouvoirs nécessaires pour réglementer et faire respecter la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, en donnant à leur tour aux municipalités le pouvoir de réglementer et de faire respecter la loi.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellSuccessive court decisions established the right of individuals to have reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and have emphasized repeatedly that the government may only restrict an individual’s access to cannabis for medical purposes when such action is justified and consistent with the objective of protecting public health and safety. In response to these court decisions, a legal framework was established under the Cannabis Regulations that allows individuals with a signed medical document from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • purchasing quality-controlled cannabis from a wide variety of federally licensed sellers inspected by Health Canada;
  • producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, as authorized by their health care practitioner (“personal production”); or,
  • designating someone to produce it for them (“designated production”).
Subject to the legal age limit in their province or territory, they are also able to buy cannabis:
  • at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets; and/or,
  • through provincial or territorial authorized online sales platforms.
The majority of individuals (approximately 375,000) who access cannabis for medical purposes obtain cannabis from a seller licensed and inspected by Health Canada. A smaller number of individuals (approximately 43,000) produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them.Health Canada is committed to protecting patients’ rights to reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and recognizes that most patients are using the program for its intended purposes. Abuse of the medical framework undermines the integrity of the system that many patients rely on to access cannabis to address their medical needs.All persons authorized to produce cannabis for medical purposes must abide by the law and operate at all times within the limits set out when they were registered by Health Canada, including respecting their plant limits. Individuals are only authorized to produce and possess cannabis for their own medical purposes (or the individual they are designated to produce for), and it is illegal for them to distribute or sell cannabis to anyone else. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of their registration and/or criminal charges and prosecution.The Cannabis Regulations require patients to obtain an authorization from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada does not play a role in determining whether cannabis is appropriate for a patient. The health care practitioner makes this decision through a discussion with their patient; the health care practitioner will also identify the daily amount needed for the patient’s medical condition. Health Canada expects health care practitioners to make these decisions based on the condition for which the patient is receiving treatment and supporting evidence.Over the last years, Health Canada has increased engagement with the health care practitioner community and the provincial and territorial licensing bodies in order to encourage health care practitioners to authorize appropriate amounts of cannabis for medical purposes, in line with established standards of practice and the best available evidence. Health Canada has published a document entitled Information for Health Care Professionals to help patients and health care practitioners make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medical purposes, including dosage amounts. The Department continues to review the latest developments in the peer-reviewed scientific literature on dosing and will continue to publish further updates to this document.Regulatory oversight of health care practitioners and the practice of medicine is the responsibility of provinces and territories and professional colleges. Most provincial and territorial licensing bodies have their own set of standards and guidelines for their members, which may include standards of practice on authorizing cannabis for medical purposes. To support provincial and territorial licensing bodies in their oversight of their members, Health Canada has been proactively sharing data on the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes since the spring 2019. This data sharing includes providing specific information on the small number of health care practitioners who are responsible for authorizing large daily amounts of cannabis. In an effort to increase transparency, in December 2020, Health Canada began publishing data on its website on the average daily amounts authorized by health care practitioners.Health Canada actively works within the current regulatory framework to address risks associated with the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • conducting additional verifications when warranted (for example, contacting the health care practitioner to confirm the validity of the medical document and to confirm the daily dosage amount);
  • verifying that there are no more than four registrations at any given production site—the maximum allowed in the regulations—to reduce the risk of large-scale production sites;
  • refusing or revoking a registration, if it is determined that an applicant has submitted false or misleading information as part of their application, such as a forged medical document, or where the registration is likely to create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity; and,
  • conducting inspections of personal registration and designated production sites to further verify compliance with the regulations.
Most recently, on March 8, 2021, Health Canada launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document for the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes. The draft guidance provides proposed factors that may be considered in refusing or revoking a registration. The public consultation is open until May 7, 2021. It is important to note that different levels of government and law enforcement have roles in maintaining public safety with respect to cannabis. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce their bylaws with respect to cannabis production, and law enforcement has the authority to take action against illegal cannabis activity under the Cannabis Act and against those who operate outside of the legal framework.With each registration issued, Health Canada reminds registered individuals and designated producers that they need to comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, odour, electrical and fire safety, as well as all related inspection and remediation requirements.Health Canada encourages all provinces, territories, and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to confirm that individuals meet all standards and by-laws. This includes implementing any limitations on zoning, location and nuisances, such as odour, that they feel are appropriate in their jurisdictions. Municipalities could, for example, require building permits and inspections of electrical work at personal production sites.Health Canada supports law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated service 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes. The Cannabis Regulationsauthorize Health Canada to share information that is protected under the Privacy Act in the context of an active law enforcement investigation. In the context of an investigation, law enforcement also has the ability to enter residences and any production sites.The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister initiate a review of the Cannabis Act three years following the coming into force (i.e., by October 17, 2021), and that a report of the review’s findings be tabled before both Houses of Parliament within 18 months of the start of the review. The Government of Canada has also committed to actively monitoring and evaluating patients’ access to cannabis for medical purposes through the implementation of the Cannabis Act, and to undertake an evaluation of the existing medical access framework within five years (i.e., by October 17, 2023), as recommended by the expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. These two exercises will be an opportunity to address some of the challenges associated with the cannabis for medical purposes program.Health Canada is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders on the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act. Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders on all aspects of the cannabis framework to advance public health and safety objectives.
CannabisCultures agricolesRéglementationRelations fédérales-provinciales-territoriales
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée26 avril 2021432-00662432-00662 (Santé)BradVisMission—Matsqui—Fraser CanyonConservateurBC11 mars 202126 avril 20214 mars 2021PÉTITION AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADAATTENDU QUE : Les licences pour la production de cannabis à usage médical sont souvent utilisées de manière abusive, la production dépassant les quantités destinées à l’usage personnel étant détournée pour être vendue sur le marché noir; La quantité de cannabis qu’un individu est autorisé à posséder à des fins médicales est impossible à consommer personnellement; Les cultures dans les quartiers résidentiels ont des effets négatifs sur la santé et le bien-être des voisins, notamment des odeurs excessives, une circulation fréquente et une baisse de la valeur des propriétés; Les autorités municipales n’ont que peu ou pas de pouvoir sur les plantations de cannabis sur leur territoire;Le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas soumis la production de cannabis à usage médical enregistré à l’examen et à l’inspection, ce qui a permis aux opérations de culture de cannabis sur les marchés gris et noir de prospérer dans le cadre de ce programme.PAR CONSÉQUENT : Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions le gouvernement du Canada de revoir l’octroi de licences et la surveillance de la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, et d’accorder aux provinces les ressources et les pouvoirs nécessaires pour réglementer et faire respecter la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, en donnant à leur tour aux municipalités le pouvoir de réglementer et de faire respecter la loi.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellSuccessive court decisions established the right of individuals to have reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and have emphasized repeatedly that the government may only restrict an individual’s access to cannabis for medical purposes when such action is justified and consistent with the objective of protecting public health and safety. In response to these court decisions, a legal framework was established under the Cannabis Regulations that allows individuals with a signed medical document from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • purchasing quality-controlled cannabis from a wide variety of federally licensed sellers inspected by Health Canada;
  • producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, as authorized by their health care practitioner (“personal production”); or,
  • designating someone to produce it for them (“designated production”).
Subject to the legal age limit in their province or territory, they are also able to buy cannabis:
  • at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets; and/or,
  • through provincial or territorial authorized online sales platforms.
The majority of individuals (approximately 375,000) who access cannabis for medical purposes obtain cannabis from a seller licensed and inspected by Health Canada. A smaller number of individuals (approximately 43,000) produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them.Health Canada is committed to protecting patients’ rights to reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and recognizes that most patients are using the program for its intended purposes. Abuse of the medical framework undermines the integrity of the system that many patients rely on to access cannabis to address their medical needs.All persons authorized to produce cannabis for medical purposes must abide by the law and operate at all times within the limits set out when they were registered by Health Canada, including respecting their plant limits. Individuals are only authorized to produce and possess cannabis for their own medical purposes (or the individual they are designated to produce for), and it is illegal for them to distribute or sell cannabis to anyone else. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of their registration and/or criminal charges and prosecution.The Cannabis Regulations require patients to obtain an authorization from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada does not play a role in determining whether cannabis is appropriate for a patient. The health care practitioner makes this decision through a discussion with their patient; the health care practitioner will also identify the daily amount needed for the patient’s medical condition. Health Canada expects health care practitioners to make these decisions based on the condition for which the patient is receiving treatment and supporting evidence.Over the last years, Health Canada has increased engagement with the health care practitioner community and the provincial and territorial licensing bodies in order to encourage health care practitioners to authorize appropriate amounts of cannabis for medical purposes, in line with established standards of practice and the best available evidence. Health Canada has published a document entitled Information for Health Care Professionals to help patients and health care practitioners make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medical purposes, including dosage amounts. The Department continues to review the latest developments in the peer-reviewed scientific literature on dosing and will continue to publish further updates to this document.Regulatory oversight of health care practitioners and the practice of medicine is the responsibility of provinces and territories and professional colleges. Most provincial and territorial licensing bodies have their own set of standards and guidelines for their members, which may include standards of practice on authorizing cannabis for medical purposes. To support provincial and territorial licensing bodies in their oversight of their members, Health Canada has been proactively sharing data on the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes since the spring 2019. This data sharing includes providing specific information on the small number of health care practitioners who are responsible for authorizing large daily amounts of cannabis. In an effort to increase transparency, in December 2020, Health Canada began publishing data on its website on the average daily amounts authorized by health care practitioners.Health Canada actively works within the current regulatory framework to address risks associated with the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • conducting additional verifications when warranted (for example, contacting the health care practitioner to confirm the validity of the medical document and to confirm the daily dosage amount);
  • verifying that there are no more than four registrations at any given production site—the maximum allowed in the regulations—to reduce the risk of large-scale production sites;
  • refusing or revoking a registration, if it is determined that an applicant has submitted false or misleading information as part of their application, such as a forged medical document, or where the registration is likely to create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity; and,
  • conducting inspections of personal registration and designated production sites to further verify compliance with the regulations.
Most recently, on March 8, 2021, Health Canada launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document for the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes. The draft guidance provides proposed factors that may be considered in refusing or revoking a registration. The public consultation is open until May 7, 2021. It is important to note that different levels of government and law enforcement have roles in maintaining public safety with respect to cannabis. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce their bylaws with respect to cannabis production, and law enforcement has the authority to take action against illegal cannabis activity under the Cannabis Act and against those who operate outside of the legal framework.With each registration issued, Health Canada reminds registered individuals and designated producers that they need to comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, odour, electrical and fire safety, as well as all related inspection and remediation requirements.Health Canada encourages all provinces, territories, and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to confirm that individuals meet all standards and by-laws. This includes implementing any limitations on zoning, location and nuisances, such as odour, that they feel are appropriate in their jurisdictions. Municipalities could, for example, require building permits and inspections of electrical work at personal production sites.Health Canada supports law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated service 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes. The Cannabis Regulationsauthorize Health Canada to share information that is protected under the Privacy Act in the context of an active law enforcement investigation. In the context of an investigation, law enforcement also has the ability to enter residences and any production sites.The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister initiate a review of the Cannabis Act three years following the coming into force (i.e., by October 17, 2021), and that a report of the review’s findings be tabled before both Houses of Parliament within 18 months of the start of the review. The Government of Canada has also committed to actively monitoring and evaluating patients’ access to cannabis for medical purposes through the implementation of the Cannabis Act, and to undertake an evaluation of the existing medical access framework within five years (i.e., by October 17, 2023), as recommended by the expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. These two exercises will be an opportunity to address some of the challenges associated with the cannabis for medical purposes program.Health Canada is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders on the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act. Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders on all aspects of the cannabis framework to advance public health and safety objectives.
CannabisCultures agricolesRéglementationRelations fédérales-provinciales-territoriales
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée22 avril 2021432-00630432-00630 (Santé)BradVisMission—Matsqui—Fraser CanyonConservateurBC9 mars 202122 avril 20214 mars 2021PÉTITION AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADAATTENDU QUE : Les licences pour la production de cannabis à usage médical sont souvent utilisées de manière abusive, la production dépassant les quantités destinées à l’usage personnel étant détournée pour être vendue sur le marché noir; La quantité de cannabis qu’un individu est autorisé à posséder à des fins médicales est impossible à consommer personnellement; Les cultures dans les quartiers résidentiels ont des effets négatifs sur la santé et le bien-être des voisins, notamment des odeurs excessives, une circulation fréquente et une baisse de la valeur des propriétés; Les autorités municipales n’ont que peu ou pas de pouvoir sur les plantations de cannabis sur leur territoire;Le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas soumis la production de cannabis à usage médical enregistré à l’examen et à l’inspection, ce qui a permis aux opérations de culture de cannabis sur les marchés gris et noir de prospérer dans le cadre de ce programme.PAR CONSÉQUENT : Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions le gouvernement du Canada de revoir l’octroi de licences et la surveillance de la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, et d’accorder aux provinces les ressources et les pouvoirs nécessaires pour réglementer et faire respecter la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, en donnant à leur tour aux municipalités le pouvoir de réglementer et de faire respecter la loi.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellSuccessive court decisions established the right of individuals to have reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and have emphasized repeatedly that the government may only restrict an individual’s access to cannabis for medical purposes when such action is justified and consistent with the objective of protecting public health and safety. In response to these court decisions, a legal framework was established under the Cannabis Regulations that allows individuals with a signed medical document from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • purchasing quality-controlled cannabis from a wide variety of federally licensed sellers inspected by Health Canada;
  • producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, as authorized by their health care practitioner (“personal production”); or,
  • designating someone to produce it for them (“designated production”).
Subject to the legal age limit in their province or territory, they are also able to buy cannabis:
  • at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets; and/or,
  • through provincial or territorial authorized online sales platforms.
The majority of individuals (approximately 375,000) who access cannabis for medical purposes obtain cannabis from a seller licensed and inspected by Health Canada. A smaller number of individuals (approximately 43,000) produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them.Health Canada is committed to protecting patients’ rights to reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and recognizes that most patients are using the program for its intended purposes. Abuse of the medical framework undermines the integrity of the system that many patients rely on to access cannabis to address their medical needs.All persons authorized to produce cannabis for medical purposes must abide by the law and operate at all times within the limits set out when they were registered by Health Canada, including respecting their plant limits. Individuals are only authorized to produce and possess cannabis for their own medical purposes (or the individual they are designated to produce for), and it is illegal for them to distribute or sell cannabis to anyone else. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of their registration and/or criminal charges and prosecution.The Cannabis Regulations require patients to obtain an authorization from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada does not play a role in determining whether cannabis is appropriate for a patient. The health care practitioner makes this decision through a discussion with their patient; the health care practitioner will also identify the daily amount needed for the patient’s medical condition. Health Canada expects health care practitioners to make these decisions based on the condition for which the patient is receiving treatment and supporting evidence.Over the last years, Health Canada has increased engagement with the health care practitioner community and the provincial and territorial licensing bodies in order to encourage health care practitioners to authorize appropriate amounts of cannabis for medical purposes, in line with established standards of practice and the best available evidence. Health Canada has published a document entitled Information for Health Care Professionals to help patients and health care practitioners make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medical purposes, including dosage amounts. The Department continues to review the latest developments in the peer-reviewed scientific literature on dosing and will continue to publish further updates to this document.Regulatory oversight of health care practitioners and the practice of medicine is the responsibility of provinces and territories and professional colleges. Most provincial and territorial licensing bodies have their own set of standards and guidelines for their members, which may include standards of practice on authorizing cannabis for medical purposes. To support provincial and territorial licensing bodies in their oversight of their members, Health Canada has been proactively sharing data on the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes since the spring 2019. This data sharing includes providing specific information on the small number of health care practitioners who are responsible for authorizing large daily amounts of cannabis. In an effort to increase transparency, in December 2020, Health Canada began publishing data on its website on the average daily amounts authorized by health care practitioners.Health Canada actively works within the current regulatory framework to address risks associated with the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • conducting additional verifications when warranted (for example, contacting the health care practitioner to confirm the validity of the medical document and to confirm the daily dosage amount);
  • verifying that there are no more than four registrations at any given production site—the maximum allowed in the regulations—to reduce the risk of large-scale production sites;
  • refusing or revoking a registration, if it is determined that an applicant has submitted false or misleading information as part of their application, such as a forged medical document, or where the registration is likely to create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity; and,
  • conducting inspections of personal registration and designated production sites to further verify compliance with the regulations.
Most recently, on March 8, 2021, Health Canada launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document for the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes. The draft guidance provides proposed factors that may be considered in refusing or revoking a registration. The public consultation is open until May 7, 2021. It is important to note that different levels of government and law enforcement have roles in maintaining public safety with respect to cannabis. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce their bylaws with respect to cannabis production, and law enforcement has the authority to take action against illegal cannabis activity under the Cannabis Act and against those who operate outside of the legal framework.With each registration issued, Health Canada reminds registered individuals and designated producers that they need to comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, odour, electrical and fire safety, as well as all related inspection and remediation requirements.Health Canada encourages all provinces, territories, and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to confirm that individuals meet all standards and by-laws. This includes implementing any limitations on zoning, location and nuisances, such as odour, that they feel are appropriate in their jurisdictions. Municipalities could, for example, require building permits and inspections of electrical work at personal production sites.Health Canada supports law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated service 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes. The Cannabis Regulations authorize Health Canada to share information that is protected under the Privacy Act in the context of an active law enforcement investigation. In the context of an investigation, law enforcement also has the ability to enter residences and any production sites.The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister initiate a review of the Cannabis Act three years following the coming into force (i.e., by October 17, 2021), and that a report of the review’s findings be tabled before both Houses of Parliament within 18 months of the start of the review. The Government of Canada has also committed to actively monitoring and evaluating patients’ access to cannabis for medical purposes through the implementation of the Cannabis Act, and to undertake an evaluation of the existing medical access framework within five years (i.e., by October 17, 2023), as recommended by the expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. These two exercises will be an opportunity to address some of the challenges associated with the cannabis for medical purposes program.Health Canada is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders on the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act. Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders on all aspects of the cannabis framework to advance public health and safety objectives.
CannabisCultures agricolesRéglementationRelations fédérales-provinciales-territoriales
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée22 avril 2021432-00631432-00631 (Santé)BradVisMission—Matsqui—Fraser CanyonConservateurBC9 mars 202122 avril 20214 mars 2021PÉTITION AU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADAATTENDU QUE : Les licences pour la production de cannabis à usage médical sont souvent utilisées de manière abusive, la production dépassant les quantités destinées à l’usage personnel étant détournée pour être vendue sur le marché noir; La quantité de cannabis qu’un individu est autorisé à posséder à des fins médicales est impossible à consommer personnellement; Les cultures dans les quartiers résidentiels ont des effets négatifs sur la santé et le bien-être des voisins, notamment des odeurs excessives, une circulation fréquente et une baisse de la valeur des propriétés; Les autorités municipales n’ont que peu ou pas de pouvoir sur les plantations de cannabis sur leur territoire;Le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas soumis la production de cannabis à usage médical enregistré à l’examen et à l’inspection, ce qui a permis aux opérations de culture de cannabis sur les marchés gris et noir de prospérer dans le cadre de ce programme.PAR CONSÉQUENT : Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions le gouvernement du Canada de revoir l’octroi de licences et la surveillance de la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, et d’accorder aux provinces les ressources et les pouvoirs nécessaires pour réglementer et faire respecter la production de cannabis à des fins médicales personnelles, en donnant à leur tour aux municipalités le pouvoir de réglementer et de faire respecter la loi.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellSuccessive court decisions established the right of individuals to have reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and have emphasized repeatedly that the government may only restrict an individual’s access to cannabis for medical purposes when such action is justified and consistent with the objective of protecting public health and safety. In response to these court decisions, a legal framework was established under the Cannabis Regulations that allows individuals with a signed medical document from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • purchasing quality-controlled cannabis from a wide variety of federally licensed sellers inspected by Health Canada;
  • producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, as authorized by their health care practitioner (“personal production”); or,
  • designating someone to produce it for them (“designated production”).
Subject to the legal age limit in their province or territory, they are also able to buy cannabis:
  • at provincial or territorial authorized retail outlets; and/or,
  • through provincial or territorial authorized online sales platforms.
The majority of individuals (approximately 375,000) who access cannabis for medical purposes obtain cannabis from a seller licensed and inspected by Health Canada. A smaller number of individuals (approximately 43,000) produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them.Health Canada is committed to protecting patients’ rights to reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes and recognizes that most patients are using the program for its intended purposes. Abuse of the medical framework undermines the integrity of the system that many patients rely on to access cannabis to address their medical needs.All persons authorized to produce cannabis for medical purposes must abide by the law and operate at all times within the limits set out when they were registered by Health Canada, including respecting their plant limits. Individuals are only authorized to produce and possess cannabis for their own medical purposes (or the individual they are designated to produce for), and it is illegal for them to distribute or sell cannabis to anyone else. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in revocation of their registration and/or criminal charges and prosecution.The Cannabis Regulations require patients to obtain an authorization from their health care practitioner to access cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada does not play a role in determining whether cannabis is appropriate for a patient. The health care practitioner makes this decision through a discussion with their patient; the health care practitioner will also identify the daily amount needed for the patient’s medical condition. Health Canada expects health care practitioners to make these decisions based on the condition for which the patient is receiving treatment and supporting evidence.Over the last years, Health Canada has increased engagement with the health care practitioner community and the provincial and territorial licensing bodies in order to encourage health care practitioners to authorize appropriate amounts of cannabis for medical purposes, in line with established standards of practice and the best available evidence. Health Canada has published a document entitled Information for Health Care Professionals to help patients and health care practitioners make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medical purposes, including dosage amounts. The Department continues to review the latest developments in the peer-reviewed scientific literature on dosing and will continue to publish further updates to this document.Regulatory oversight of health care practitioners and the practice of medicine is the responsibility of provinces and territories and professional colleges. Most provincial and territorial licensing bodies have their own set of standards and guidelines for their members, which may include standards of practice on authorizing cannabis for medical purposes. To support provincial and territorial licensing bodies in their oversight of their members, Health Canada has been proactively sharing data on the authorization of cannabis for medical purposes since the spring 2019. This data sharing includes providing specific information on the small number of health care practitioners who are responsible for authorizing large daily amounts of cannabis. In an effort to increase transparency, in December 2020, Health Canada began publishing data on its website on the average daily amounts authorized by health care practitioners.Health Canada actively works within the current regulatory framework to address risks associated with the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes by:
  • conducting additional verifications when warranted (for example, contacting the health care practitioner to confirm the validity of the medical document and to confirm the daily dosage amount);
  • verifying that there are no more than four registrations at any given production site—the maximum allowed in the regulations—to reduce the risk of large-scale production sites;
  • refusing or revoking a registration, if it is determined that an applicant has submitted false or misleading information as part of their application, such as a forged medical document, or where the registration is likely to create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity; and,
  • conducting inspections of personal registration and designated production sites to further verify compliance with the regulations.
Most recently, on March 8, 2021, Health Canada launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document for the personal and designated production of cannabis for medical purposes. The draft guidance provides proposed factors that may be considered in refusing or revoking a registration. The public consultation is open until May 7, 2021. It is important to note that different levels of government and law enforcement have roles in maintaining public safety with respect to cannabis. It is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce their bylaws with respect to cannabis production, and law enforcement has the authority to take action against illegal cannabis activity under the Cannabis Act and against those who operate outside of the legal framework.With each registration issued, Health Canada reminds registered individuals and designated producers that they need to comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, odour, electrical and fire safety, as well as all related inspection and remediation requirements.Health Canada encourages all provinces, territories, and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to confirm that individuals meet all standards and by-laws. This includes implementing any limitations on zoning, location and nuisances, such as odour, that they feel are appropriate in their jurisdictions. Municipalities could, for example, require building permits and inspections of electrical work at personal production sites.Health Canada supports law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated service 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes. The Cannabis Regulations authorize Health Canada to share information that is protected under the Privacy Act in the context of an active law enforcement investigation. In the context of an investigation, law enforcement also has the ability to enter residences and any production sites.The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister initiate a review of the Cannabis Act three years following the coming into force (i.e., by October 17, 2021), and that a report of the review’s findings be tabled before both Houses of Parliament within 18 months of the start of the review. The Government of Canada has also committed to actively monitoring and evaluating patients’ access to cannabis for medical purposes through the implementation of the Cannabis Act, and to undertake an evaluation of the existing medical access framework within five years (i.e., by October 17, 2023), as recommended by the expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. These two exercises will be an opportunity to address some of the challenges associated with the cannabis for medical purposes program.Health Canada is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders on the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act. Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders on all aspects of the cannabis framework to advance public health and safety objectives.
CannabisCultures agricolesRéglementationRelations fédérales-provinciales-territoriales
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée12 avril 2021432-00566432-00566 (Santé)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNPDBC25 février 202112 avril 202115 février 2021Pétition au gouvernement du CanadaAttendu que :
  • Santé Canada a reçu une demande (no 10-MM0330) de licence pour un établissement de marijuana à des fins médicales au 7827 Beaver Creek Rd., à Port Alberni, en Colombie-Britannique;
  • Cet établissement de la taille d’un Walmart serait situé directement en face (à 174 m) de Kackaamin, un centre de guérison pour toxicomanie et traumatismes familiaux offrant des traitements à des adultes et logeant leur famille entière, où se trouvent également une garderie dument accréditée et une école de la maternelle à la 12e année;
  • Kackaamin se consacre au travail de guérison faisant suite à notre histoire commune de colonialisme et de pensionnats;
  • Kackaamin n’a jamais été consulté lors de la planification initiale de cet établissement, et avait demandé qu’il s’installe ailleurs;
  • L’objet de la Loi sur le cannabis est de « protéger la santé et la sécurité publiques »;
  • Le gouvernement a des obligations dans le cadre de la Réconciliation, de la DNUDPA et des Appels à l’action de la CVR.
Nous, les soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, prions la ministre de la Santé de :
  • Reconnaître le racisme implicite des choix stratégiques de Santé Canada en ce qui concerne son processus d’octroi de licence pour le cannabis et le traitement de ce dossier;
  • Se conformer à l’objet de la Loi sur le cannabis et au principe de réconciliation;
  • Accélérer l’examen de ce dossier et d’annuler toutes les licences de cannabis et demandes de licences au 7827, 7825 et 7821 Beaver Creek Rd., Port Alberni, Colombie-Britannique, au titre de l’alinéa 62(7)g) de la Loi sur le cannabis « dans l’intérêt public »;
  • Présenter des excuses à Kackaamin et confirmer son engagement envers la DNUDPA et les Appels à l’action de la CVR.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellThe Government of Canada is committed to a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership. Health Canada works closely with Indigenous leaders, organizations and communities across the country to consider carefully any cannabis-related interests and to advance shared objectives of protecting public health and safety.Due to Access to Information and Privacy laws, Health Canada is unable to disclose personal information or information provided by a third party, including the status of any licence application, unless granted consent. However, the Department has engaged specifically with representatives of the Kackaamin Family Development Centre, the City of Port Alberni, and the Province of British Columbia in the interest of promoting understanding and discussing community concerns.The Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations create a strict framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada. The purpose of the Act is to protect public health and public safety by keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth and profits out of the pockets of criminals, and providing adults with legal access to a quality-controlled source of cannabis. In order to achieve these aims, any licence application for medical marijuana facilities undergo a thorough and rigorous review, and any approved facilities are subject to strict enforcement measures.Before submitting an application, an applicant must provide written notice of their intentions to the local authorities. The Department processes licence applications in the order received, and begins its review only after the applicant has submitted a complete application, including a site-evidence package that demonstrates that the site is fully built and compliant with the stringent requirements set out in the Act and Regulations. Some of the criteria by which Health Canada assesses an application include:
  • the physical security measures at the site;
  • the processes that will be used for the building and the equipment to help ensure that cannabis meets quality standards appropriate to its intended use;
  • the applicant’s demonstration of an air filtration system to prevent the escape of odours;
  • how the applicant will keep records of their activities with cannabis, such as records for tracking sales, product returns and product inventory; and,
  • the security profile of key personnel.
If Health Canada does issue a licence after this meticulous review, an applicant must comply with the Cannabis Regulations and all other applicable laws and is subject to any enforcement measures. These additional applicable laws include: local by-laws and fire codes; municipal, provincial and territorial laws, such as environmental or nuisance laws; as well as any by-laws/regulations made by a First Nation acting within their legal authority, if the application is for activities located on reserves. Health Canada possesses a range of enforcement tools to verify compliance, including inspections, to ensure that licensees produce, sell, and distribute cannabis in accordance with the Cannabis Regulations. Health Canada encourages licence applicants to undertake consultation and engagement with local communities to address any concerns or questions they may have about proposed cannabis production facilities. The stringent controls on the commercial cultivation, processing, and sale of quality-controlled cannabis strive to safeguard the public health and safety of communities. Applications for licenses can be refused under grounds outlined in the Regulations, especially if there is a special risk to public health or safety, such as the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market or activity. Such determinations, however, can only be made once the review of an application is complete.
CannabisPermis et licencesPolitique autochtonePort Alberni
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée16 novembre 2020e-2450e-2450 (Santé)RaphaelLouisPaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithParti vertBC27 février 2020 à 15 h 09 (HAE)26 juin 2020 à 15 h 09 (HAE)28 septembre 202016 novembre 202026 juin 2020Pétition à la <Addressee type="2" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement</Addressee>Attendu que :Le cannabidiol (CBD) est un composé du plant de cannabis qui ne crée pas de dépendance, d’intoxication ni d’effet psychoactif et qui est associé à plusieurs effets thérapeutiques;Le CBD peut soulager le stress, améliorer le sommeil et atténuer la douleur;Le CBD est légal, mais réglementé en tant que substance contrôlée, au même titre que les produits du cannabis contenant du tétrahydrocannabinol (THC), ou que les médicaments d’ordonnance lorsqu’il est utilisé à des fins médicales;Selon l’Association canadienne des aliments de santé, le CBD ne pose pas un risque suffisant pour la santé humaine pour justifier son inclusion dans la Liste des drogues sur ordonnance à certaines doses (par exemple, jusqu’à 200 à 600 mg par jour), et il conviendrait mieux de le réglementer comme un produit de santé naturel ou un supplément alimentaire;Le CBD est utilisé comme un produit de santé naturel, mais il ne peut être obtenu que sur ordonnance ou chez un détaillant autorisé de cannabis récréatif;Il est illégal de traverser la frontière avec du CBD d’ordonnance ou tout autre produit du cannabis, alors qu’il demeure légal de le faire avec d’autres substances contrôlées telles que les opioïdes d’ordonnance;Les restrictions applicables aux produits du CBD à l’heure actuelle limitent le potentiel pour le Canada de devenir un chef de file mondial en produits du CBD et en recherche connexe;Les restrictions applicables aux produits du CBD encouragent aussi leur production et leur distribution dans le marché clandestin, où leur puissance et leur pureté sont inconnues.Nous soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, prions la Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement de : 1. Modifier la réglementation du CBD et de classifier celui-ci comme produit de santé naturel;2. Retirer le CBD de la Liste des drogues sur ordonnance à certaines doses (c.à.d. 200-600 mg/jour);3. Légaliser au Canada le transport transfrontalier de produits du CBD.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Darren FisherCannabidiol (CBD) is a compound that is found in varieties of the cannabis plant, including industrial hemp plants. While it is non-intoxicating, CBD does have an effect on the body and brain. CBD is a controlled substance under a United Nations drug control convention to which Canada is a signatory. CBD is regulated in Canada under the Cannabis Act and its regulations, as well as the Food and Drugs Act and its regulations. Internationally, CBD is listed under Schedule I and IV of the1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol. Based on this classification, the Government of Canada is required to:
  • Limit possession except under legal authority;
  • Limit production and imports to estimated needs;
  • Licence and control production and distribution;
  • Report on activities related to CBD; and,
  • Establish strict restrictions for imports and exports.
 Consistent with the controlled status of CBD internationally, CBD is a controlled substance in Canada. The Cannabis Act provides restricted access to CBD (along with other forms of cannabis) for both medical and non-medical purposes. The Act and its regulations establish a series of controls to mitigate against the public health and public safety risks posed by these substances. For example, the Act and regulations set out requirements for the production of products containing CBD to ensure that they meet quality standards and are tested and validated for CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. Similarly, persons wishing to produce, distribute or sell cannabis products, including those that contain CBD, must hold a licence or other form of authorization from the appropriate federal or provincial/territorial authority. Under the Cannabis Act, individuals who have the support of their health care practitioner may access cannabis for medical purposes from federally licensed sellers, including a range of cannabis products that contain CBD. Operating alongside the regime established by the Cannabis Act, the Food and Drugs Act and its regulations provide a regulatory pathway for the manufacture and sale of prescription drugs that contain cannabis, including veterinary drugs. The Department added all phytocannabinoids (http://bit.ly/2TjG0JT), including CBD, to the Human and Veterinary Prescription Drug List (PDL) on October 17, 2018. This means that any drug containing a phytocannabinoid can only be sold in Canada on a prescription-only basis. The listing of all phytocannabinoids on the PDL reflects a current lack of clinical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of the chemicals found in cannabis for therapeutic purposes. As experience grows and knowledge is gained (through robust scientific evidence), the prescription status of certain phytocannabinoids (for specific conditions of use) may no longer be necessary. The Department is aware that some Canadians are interested in the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis for purposes such as pain relief, for human use and in animals, without the need for practitioner oversight. On June 19, 2019, Health Canada launched a consultation to seek feedback from Canadians and industry on the kinds of products they would be interested in purchasing, manufacturing or selling if such products were to be legally available in Canada. For more information, the report summarizing the feedback received is available online: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/drugs-health-products/summary-report-consultation-potential-market-health-products-cannabis.html. As part of this consultation, the Department made a commitment to seek external scientific advice regarding the appropriate evidence standards for non-prescription health products containing cannabis. On February 27, 2020, Health Canada also issued a call for nominations for a Science Advisory Committee on Health Products Containing Cannabis. The Committee will provide independent scientific and clinical advice to support the Department’s consideration of appropriate safety, efficacy, and quality standards for health products containing cannabis, including the conditions under which these products would be suitable to be used without practitioner oversight (e.g., dose and indication).  The Committee will review available evidence regarding the use of cannabis and health products containing cannabis, address specific scientific questions, review current and emerging scientific and clinical issues, and provide evidence-based advice to help inform a potential regulatory path forward. For information pertaining to the Committee, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/health-products-containing-cannabis.html.
CannabidiolCannabisFrontièresProduits de santé naturels
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée24 septembre 2020e-2492e-2492 (Santé)GeraldMajorDonDaviesVancouver KingswayNPDBC26 mars 2020 à 11 h 02 (HAE)25 mai 2020 à 11 h 02 (HAE)11 juin 202024 septembre 202025 mai 2020Pétition à la <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Chambre des communes</Addressee>Attendu que :À cause de la pandémie de la COVID-19, des centaines de milliers de Canadiens atteints d’une maladie grave ou chronique, notamment des enfants, des personnes âgées et des vétérans de la police et des forces armées, risquent de ne plus avoir accès à leur traitement;Santé Canada a l’obligation constitutionnelle de mettre en place un programme efficace d’accès au cannabis thérapeutique;La seule façon de se procurer du cannabis thérapeutique est de s’adresser directement à des vendeurs autorisés qui l’enverront par courrier; le service postal ayant une capacité réduite, des patients peuvent être confrontés à des difficultés ou à des retards dans l’accès à leur traitement les forçant à se tourner vers le marché non réglementé, ce qui augmente considérablement le risque d’infection à la COVID-19 et expose les personnes âgées et les patients immunodéprimés à un grave danger;Il existe des preuves cliniques solides de l’efficacité du cannabis pour réduire la dépendance aux opioïdes; les perturbations dans l’approvisionnement en cannabis thérapeutique exposent les patients à un risque d’accroissement de la consommation d’opioïdes, à de possibles surdoses et à d’autres problèmes connexes;Pour changer de médicaments, en ce moment, il faut s’adresser à des professionnels de la santé, alors que nous devons prendre des mesures pour réduire le fardeau qui pèse sur le système de santé;Voyant que les magasins qui vendent du cannabis à des fins récréatives dans plusieurs provinces ont été désignés comme services essentiels, nous nous attendons à ce que la même désignation soit appliquée au niveau fédéral pour le cannabis thérapeutique afin d’aider les patients qui en ont le plus besoin.Nous, soussignés, citoyens du Canada, prions la Chambre des communes d'appliquer une désignation fédérale à l’approvisionnement en cannabis thérapeutique comme étant un service essentiel, protégé par la Constitution, de sorte que toutes les activités visant à préserver l’accès des patients au cannabis thérapeutique par le biais de la filière sous réglementation gouvernementale soient considérées comme étant des services essentiels, et de maintenir cette désignation importante pour garantir la livraison des médicaments nécessaires, y compris le cannabis thérapeutique, en cas de restrictions dans le service postal.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Darren FisherThe Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that individuals who require cannabis for medical purposes have reasonable access to legal and quality-controlled products. The Cannabis Act and its regulations provide distinct channels for access to cannabis for medical purposes for individuals who have the support of their health care practitioner. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has classified cannabis for medical purposes as an essential service and function. Health Canada recognizes that the pandemic has created a number of challenges for patients who access cannabis for medical purposes, and has taken steps to support continued access while continuing to protect public health and safety. Measures are in place to support the cannabis industry, without compromising health and safety, which will enable the legal cannabis sector to continue to operate and provide Canadians with access to cannabis for medical purposes. Health Canada continues to monitor production and inventory levels and the availability of cannabis for medical purposes.  Health Canada has also heard the concerns of patients who may not be able to renew their medical documents during this time, either due to the need to self-isolate, or due to not being able to access their health care practitioner. In response, Health Canada has put in place a temporary regulatory amendment, which will provide a six-month extension to the expiry date of patient registrations. If a patient’s registration with the Minister or a federally licensed seller expires between March 13, 2020 and September 30, 2020 and they are unable to consult a health care practitioner to get a new medical document, they may continue to use their current registration document or registration certificate for an additional six months. This amendment facilitates patients’ ability to adhere to public health guidance to practise physical distancing by reducing their need to leave their home to obtain a new medical document from their health care practitioner during this time.
CannabisMédicaments sur ordonnanceService des postesServices essentiels
43e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée25 mai 2020431-00128431-00128 (Agriculture)PaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithParti vertBC9 mars 202025 mai 202028 février 2020Pétition à la Chambre des communesATTENDU QUE
  • La Loi sur le cannabis est entrée en vigueur le 17 octobre 2018, entraînant la légalisation de la consommation de cannabis au Canada. À présent, Santé Canada accepte les demandes des personnes qui souhaitent devenir titulaires d’une licence liée au cannabis, en vue de les autoriser à cultiver et à transformer le cannabis.
  • Le ministre fédéral de l’Agriculture, Lawrence MacAulay, a déclaré : « Il est important de reconnaître que le cannabis est un produit agricole comme les autres ». S’il est vrai que le cannabis est une culture agricole, il est inexact de prétendre qu’il se compare aux autres produits agricoles :
    --Les terpènes du cannabis engendrent du smog. Ils sont classés dans la catégorie des composés organiques volatils ou COV. Les COV sont inoffensifs en soi. Cependant, lorsqu’ils se combinent aux gaz de combustion, comme les oxydes d’azote produits par les voitures et les activités industrielles, ils créent de l’ozone troposphérique, c’est-à-dire le « mauvais » type d’ozone qui cause le smog et qui peut provoquer divers problèmes de santé chez les humains et les animaux.
    --L’odeur du cannabis est un contaminant aérien. À Denver, dans le Colorado, 30 % de toutes les plaintes municipales relatives aux odeurs concernent le cannabis. La région métropolitaine de Vancouver et les municipalités qui la composent sont également submergées de plaintes. Le district régional du Grand Vancouver a indiqué que « la production de cannabis est susceptible d’avoir des effets négatifs sur la qualité de l’air si les émissions ne sont pas correctement contrôlées ».
    --Les fermes de cannabis requièrent des barrières de sécurité de 6 à 8 pieds de haut surmontées de barbelés, ainsi qu’une surveillance par caméra 24 heures sur 24. Être voisin d’un champ de cannabis, ce n’est pas comme vivre à côté d’un champ de maïs. Sur le plan du voisinage, une culture de cannabis ressemble davantage à un pénitencier.
    --Les exploitations de cannabis entraîneront une hausse de la criminalité. À l’heure actuelle, les cultures de cannabis en intérieur, ainsi que les résidents et les entreprises qui les avoisinent, sont déjà aux prises avec une criminalité omniprésente qui n’est attribuable qu’à l’arrivée de ces opérations de culture du cannabis.
    --Le cannabis est une drogue. Un champ de cannabis est un champ dans lequel pousse une substance psychoactive prête à être consommée.
    --La culture du cannabis en plein air aura une incidence directe sur la production alimentaire locale et la sécurité alimentaire. Déjà, près de 30 % de la nourriture consommée au Canada est importée; or, cette proportion ne fera qu’augmenter à mesure que nous perdrons des terres agricoles locales au profit de la culture du cannabis.
Nous soussignés, résidents du Canada, prions la Chambre des communes :
  • de reconnaître que le cannabis n’est pas une culture agricole ordinaire et que la culture du cannabis en plein air nécessite une réglementation renforcée;
  • de modifier la réglementation relative à l’octroi des licences liées au cannabis, afin d’exiger la consultation des collectivités locales ainsi que la participation active des municipalités locales dans le processus décisionnel entourant les licences, notamment en ce qui concerne l’emplacement des établissements auxquels sont octroyées des licences pour la production et la transformation du cannabis en plein air;
  • d’imposer un moratoire d’un an sur les licences autorisant la culture du cannabis en plein air, pour que les municipalités aient le temps de se doter de règlements adéquats et de s’impliquer davantage dans le processus décisionnel.
Response by the Minister of HealthSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Mr. Darren FisherThe Cannabis Act (the Act) is designed to better protect the health and safety of Canadians, to keep cannabis out of the hands of youth, and to keep profits from illicit cannabis sales out of the pockets of criminals and organized crime. All holders of a federal cannabis licence must comply with the provisions of the Act and the Cannabis Regulations (the regulations)which provide the federal legal framework that controls the production and sale of cannabis. Health Canada works closely with the provinces and territories, Indigenous communities, the regulated industry, public health organizations, and law enforcement to support effective implementation of the regulations.Under the Act and its regulations, a federal licence is required to cultivate cannabis (as well as other authorized activities, such as processing cannabis or selling cannabis to other federal licence holders or to provincially or territorially authorized distributors and retailers). The grounds on which the Minister may refuse to issue a licence are outlined within subsection 62(7) of the Act and aim to ensure that those who receive a licence are capable of conducting their activities in a safe and responsible manner in compliance with the Act and its regulations.The cultivation and processing of cannabis in Canada is subject to stringent requirements and applicants who wish to become authorized producers must undergo an in depth security clearance process. All licence holders, agents, corporate directors and any individuals occupying senior positions at the site must hold a valid security clearance. This involves a criminal record check and law enforcement record check to detect any known links to organized crime.  Furthermore, the national Cannabis Tracking System is a federal enforcement tool in place to track the flow of cannabis as a means of preventing the illegal inversion and diversion of cannabis into and out of the regulated framework. Reporting requirements, in accordance with the regulations, are also in place to help prevent diversion into the illegal market.In addition, the regulations specify physical security requirements for the perimeter of a production site as well as for areas within the site where cannabis is present. For example, applicants for standard cultivation or processing licences must put systems in place to ensure that access to these areas is controlled at all times, and establish 24/7 visual monitoring systems to detect unlawful conduct. Areas where cannabis is present must be secured by an intrusion detection system that will detect attempted or actual unauthorized access to the area, and a record must be made of every person entering or exiting those areas.Under the regulations, all applicants must notify local authorities (including local government, fire authority and police force) prior to submitting their application to Health Canada. This process allows municipal officials an opportunity to exercise their authorities. On May 8, 2019, Health Canada introduced changes to align the approach to cannabis licensing with the approach for other regulated sectors, such as pharmaceuticals. With these changes, all new applicants for licences to cultivate cannabis, process cannabis, or sell cannabis for medical and non-medical purposes must have a fully built site that meets all the requirements of the regulations at the time of their application, as well as satisfying other application criteria. This means that applicants would need to comply with municipal bylaws and zoning requirements before submitting their application to Health Canada.With respect to environmental concerns, outdoor cultivation is considered a less energy-intensive method of cultivation, resulting in less energy use and a reduced carbon footprint. In addition, any methods used by a licence holder to destroy cannabis must comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal environmental protection legislation.All applicants are responsible to comply with all applicable provincial or territorial laws and regulations (e.g., environmental laws) as well as municipal by-laws (e.g., zoning and building permits). Health Canada encourages all provinces/territories and municipalities to use the tools at their disposal to ensure that prospective cannabis licence holders meet all standards and bylaws, including local by-laws about zoning, noise, and odour. One potential reference is the Municipal Guide to Cannabis Legalization developed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which provides guidance in a number of areas, including land use management and bylaw enforcement.The Cannabis Act requires that a legislative review be conducted three years following its coming into force.
CannabisCultures agricolesPermis et licencesVilles