When the federal government signed the Cannabis Act into law in 2018, legalizing recreational cannabis, it also committed to providing patients with better access to medical cannabis and to more extensively researching the trends, use patterns, patient impact, potential therapeutic treatments and adverse effects of cannabis and cannabinoids. The legislation also prompted new conversations in […]
Compared to the preceding years, 2019 appears to be the year of steady when it comes to progress on hot topics that resonated in the industry in 2017 and 2018. While no single topic has disappeared from the slate, neither have any new ones risen to become topics of urgency among consultants. “Last year, we […]
The conflation of medical and recreational cannabis can present challenges when it comes to workplace policies, says Gregory Clooney, a lawyer and senior legal consultant at Morneau Shepell Ltd. “This should be avoided as these are two very different concepts to be addressed within their own context,” he says. “Yes, there’s some potential overlap, but this can […]
The Reformulary Group Inc. is launching the Cannabis Standard, an evidence-based medical marijuana formulary and research platform that operates on a subscription basis. It determines if patients are a good candidate for medical cannabis based on research, reviews, clinical evidence and the advice of an expert committee. The Cannabis Standard will allow employers to access evidence and expert advice on […]
The Great-West Life Assurance Co. is expanding its coverage of medical cannabis, which includes a new agreement with Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., to deliver its medical cannabis coaching program. “We’ve expanded our optional medical cannabis coverage to our pay-direct drug plans, which represent the vast majority of all of our drug plans, to help the financial, physical […]
Two-thirds (65 per cent) of Canadians would take a drug containing cannabis if it were prescribed by a doctor, approved by Health Canada and covered by insurance, according to a new Ipsos poll. Among the 65 per cent, 36 per cent said they’re very willing and 29 per cent said they’re somewhat willing to do so. Men (69 […]
Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in October 2018, most Canadian organizations created policies for employees on what is and isn’t allowed in the workplace. But one group that hasn’t been considered is employees’ kids, those in their teenage years who are most vulnerable to cannabis use and overuse. Cannabis use among Canadian youth aged 15 to 24 is […]
As the cannabis industry rapidly grows, employers in the sector are feeling overwhelmed with the sheer volume of employees they need to recruit. A network for human resources professionals in the cannabis industry, called Cannabis HR Network, was launched on Friday to meet the need. It aims to provide a forum for employers in the regulated […]
The recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada has brought up a lot of new questions for employers, according to one expert. “Now that we’re past legalization, this is a great time to revisit the conversation on benefits coverage. It’s important to have that conversation, rather than delaying it,” said Jonathan Zaid, director of advocacy and corporate […]
Although the landscape is set to change dramatically with the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, plan sponsors and members can expect a distinct system for medical cannabis to continue, said Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s Jonathan Zaid. Speaking at the Pharmacy Solutions in Drug Plan Management forum in Mississauga, Ont. on Sept. 25, Zaid, the organization’s director, advocacy and […]