On June 19, 2019, Health Canada launched a consultation (the 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 the purposes of the Consultation, Health Canada is referring to these products as “cannabis health products”.
While Canadians can currently access cannabis for medical purposes when authorized by their doctor, they cannot legally access a cannabis product that makes a health claim and does not require practitioner oversight.
Health Canada notes that it has become aware that some Canadians are interested in the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis, for such purposes as pain relief, for human use and in animals, without the need for the oversight of a practitioner.
Following the Consultation, Health Canada intends to gather external scientific advice on the appropriate evidence standards required to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Health Canada has advised that the information gathered through the Consultation and related activities will inform its next steps on the development of a regulatory pathway for cannabis health products.
You can access the Consultation here.
DISCLAIMER: This post is intended to convey general information about legal issues and developments as of the date above. It does not constitute legal advice and must not be treated or relied on as such.