Cannabis Regulations

Yes, it is legal for cannabis to be used in hospitals. Access to cannabis for medical purposes and its use in hospitals is specifically addressed in Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations.

The Regulations cover a number of issues, including:

• Security – protect cannabis products from theft or loss; report theft or loss
• Administration of cannabis products to patients with medical document
• Distribution and sale of cannabis products, covering quantities, labels, dates, etc.
• Emergency purposes – to be distributed or sold for emergency purposes to an employee of or a health care practitioner in another hospital

Hospital policies regarding patient use

Although the Regulations allow patients to legally have access to cannabis while in hospital, it is up to the individual hospital to implement specific processes and policies regarding the patient’s use of the drug. These policies may address several issues. For instance, patients may have to:

• supply their own cannabis (such as edibles, oils or suppositories) and it must be from a Health Canada licensed provider,
• notify nursing staff whenever they use cannabis,
• record the date, time, amount, dosage, and frequency of their use, and
• the attending physician must agree to continue medical marijuana use as a treatment.

Are nurses allowed to administer medical cannabis to a patient? 

If the hospital policy permits, under the Cannabis Regulations, nurses who are authorized by a nursing statutory body, such as the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) are given the legal authority to possess and distribute cannabis for medical purposes. This may include:

• administering medical cannabis to patients who are authorized to use it;
• administering medical cannabis in both hospital and home care; and
• providing assistance to patients who cannot take their own medical cannabis independently.

For more information, view the Cannabis Act, or contact your hospital or health care practitioner.

Get help

To erase your criminal record for simple cannabis possession or any other criminal charges, call toll-free 1-888-808-3628 or learn more at Pardon Partners. It’s easier than you think.

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, it is important to hire an experienced criminal defence lawyer as soon as possible. Contact our preferred criminal defence expert, Calvin Barry Criminal Lawyers for a free consultation at 416-938-5858 .

								
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