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With the legalization of cannabis use, Doctors of BC has compiled a list of relevant resources for physicians. We recently conducted a survey to hear what physicians think about this topic. We learned, among other things, that physicians want easily accessible, current and relevant information to support them. To that end, this page is a work in progress. If you have suggestions for additional articles or clinical studies to add to this list, please e-mail us at communications@doctorsofbc.ca.
Federal government
Health Canada
Cannabis in Canada: Get the Facts
Contains a repository of resources on recreational and medical cannabis, and can be sorted by:
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topic (youth, research and data, health effects, impairment, legalization etc.), or
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who the resources are for (parents, cannabis users, healthcare providers etc.)
Final Regulations on Edible Cannabis, Cannabis Extracts, and Cannabis Topicals
Contains Health Canada's news release and information on the finalized regulations for the production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts, and cannabis topicals. These regulations will come into effect on October 17, 2019. However, the earliest products will become available for sale is mid-December.
Government of Canada
Information for Healthcare Professionals: Cannabis and the Cannabinoids
Provides a summary of peer-reviewed literature and international reviews regarding potential therapeutic uses and harmful effects of cannabis and cannabinoids. Includes description of the endocannabinoid system, clinical pharmacology, dosing, potential therapeutic uses, and adverse effects.
Provincial government
Government of British Columbia
Contains information and links to resources pertaining to legislation, information about cannabis, information about traveling and growing at home, and health information including links to resources for healthcare professionals.
Divisions of Family Practice
Pathways BC
A tool developed by the Divisions of Family Practice that contains evidence-based resources and information for physicians to use in discussing cannabis in a clinical setting.
Access is limited to general practitioners that are members of a Division of Family Practice, their medical office staff, and to specialists practicing within those respective Divisions. To access information, physicians either need to login or register an account with Pathways BC. Once logged in, physicians can search for cannabis resources.
Canadian Medical Association (CMA)
Educational resources on the health risks of cannabis use, including the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines. Resources are geared for health-care providers, public and youth.
Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
How legalization of recreational marijuana may affect your medical practice
Contains information on things to consider from the perspective of the physician medical practice.
Includes: impact on marijuana for medical purposes; clinical issues; police requests for blood samples; and fitness to drive.
Colleges
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
Practice Standard: Cannabis for Medical Purposes
Provides the College of Physician and Surgeons of BC’s position on cannabis for medical purposes while also giving direction to physicians on their duties and responsibilities as it pertains to medical cannabis. Document also includes a Q&A.
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Authorizing Dried Cannabis for Chronic Pain or Anxiety: Preliminary Guidance
Developed by the CFPC to give guidance to family physicians on authorizing dried cannabis use for chronic pain or anxiety. The document is based on a literature search and review of evidence on specific topics related to cannabis effectiveness, safety, and adverse effects. Recommendations are graded based on their level of evidence.
For patients
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines
A two page handout that provides evidence based guidelines and education to enable individuals to make choices that reduce potential risks of recreational cannabis use.
Other Associations
Canadian Pharmacy Association
An evidence-based monograph that summarizes cannabis and describes uses, warnings and precautions, adverse reactions, potential drug interactions, dosage, and other relevant information.
To access the monograph open the link and follow these instructions:
- Under Drug Tools, select RxTx.
- Login with CPSBC username and password.
- Search for ‘cannabis’.
- Select Cannabis (CPhA Monograph).
- When finished, please look at the top right corner of RxTx, click on “College of Physici…” and click Logout, to make room for others.
Physicians are also welcome to request a copy from the College library (medlib@cpsbc.ca). RxTx is available through other BC institutions as well including UBC.
Canadian Public Health Association:
Provides a list of resources developed by the Canadian Public Health Association that discuss the evidence around cannabis, how it is going to be regulated, and tools specifically for healthcare and other service providers.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Provides a comprehensive review of scientific evidence related to the health effects or potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis. The report also identifies gaps in knowledge and key areas for needed research.