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 […]
As plan sponsors and private payers begin integrating medical cannabis coverage into benefits plans, it’s crucial they account for the dynamic nature of the industry and remain adaptable to anticipated changes around distribution and product innovation. Although medical cannabis isn’t new, current offerings are just a first step, said Matt Gaudry, director of product support and management at […]
Shoppers Drug Mart’s e-commerce platform for medical cannabis launched Tuesday, a month after Health Canada licensed the company to sell the product online. Product information is available nationally, but Shoppers Drug Mart can initially only sell medical cannabis to patients in Ontario. Patients will be required to take a medical document similar to a prescription […]
With the legalization of recreational cannabis on Oct. 17, 2018, employers have been preparing to answer questions about whether their current benefits plans should provide reimbursement for cannabis products for medical purposes. Access to cannabis for medical purposes isn’t new. However, with all the attention on cannabis due to the legalization of recreational cannabis, employers […]
The 2018 Calgary Drug Trends Summit shone a spotlight on a wide range of trends, from new advances in drug and lifestyle therapies to the impact of cannabis legalization on benefits coverage to drug plan cost management. Here are some of the highlights of the sessions: A look at pharmacist-led deprescribing using therapeutic nutrition intervention Achieving radiant […]
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 […]
The Co-operators Life Insurance Co. is introducing optional medical cannabis coverage for its largest group plan sponsors. While the coverage can be added as an optional provision under an extended health-care plan, it requires prior authorization and is subject to an annual maximum. The insurer will consider cannabis an eligible expense under a health-care spending account, as long […]
Doctors with opposing views on whether medical marijuana should be prescribed for various conditions agree on one thing: their profession is ill-prepared to deal with patients asking for a drug that lacks adequate clinical research. Two doctors with contrasting viewpoints on the issue will participate in a debate on Tuesday — the day before recreational cannabis […]
Marijuana. Cannabis. Pot. Weed. Bud. Grass. Reefer. Kush. Mary Jane. Ganja. Doobie. Trees. No matter what you call it, marijuana is dominating the Canadian news cycle in 2018. And I think it’s about time. At Benefits Canada, it’s cropping up in every area we cover, including how employers can add medical marijuana coverage into their […]