Medical cannabis patients in Canada are at the mercy of local law enforcement as local medically-focused dispensaries are targeted. In August 2017 Mr. Justice Lofchik of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered that a local cannabis dispensary could remain open on the condition they sell cannabis only to patients with a valid medical document. While a full hearing on the government’s mail order system is pending, the order was a powerful statement on the pressing need for brick and mortar solutions for patients in the community. As dispensaries around Hamilton are being targeted and forced to close, patients are desperate for the remaining few to continue operations under the Lofchik order. Toronto cannabis lawyer Jack Lloyd argued the case and posited, you cannot prohibit dispensaries at a time when the government’s system is broken. In his case, Lloyd pointed out that in Allard v The Queen, Mr. Justice Phelan…

On November 7th, 2018 Medicinal My Way Coalition Member James O’Hara addressed the Federal Finance Committee and below is a transcript of that speech. “Thank you Chair, and to the Standing Committee for the invitation to appear today. My name is James O’Hara and I’m the President and CEO of Canadians For Fair Access to Medical Marijuana, commonly known as CFAMM and I’m a medical cannabis patient myself. CFAMM is a national non-profit organization which has successfully represented medical cannabis patients since 2014. We speak on behalf of the approximately 350,000 medical cannabis patients in Canada today. Our organization has emerged as the thoughtful, legitimate, grassroots voice for medical cannabis in the non-profit, advocacy space today. Let me begin Mr. Chairman…by saying, 25%, that’s the average amount of tax there is on medical cannabis today. 25% and in many cases, that’s low…fully a quarter of the cost of a patient’s…

While cannabis has been used for years by the medical community for treating various conditions, a recently published study puts the spotlight on medicinal cannabinoids as a candidate for treating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause that can affect a person’s brain, spinal cord, and eyes. The immune system attacks the protective outer shell of the body’s nerve systems, and eventually, a person’s nerves can become permanently damaged. As MS progresses, the brain can no longer use the nerve fibres to properly transmit signals throughout the body. Patients suffering from MS will have mild to serious symptoms that can affect, vision, speech, voluntary movement, balance, muscle control and body functions. Patients may also experience tiredness, depression, and physical pain. Symptoms vary and can either worsen or improve (with possibilities for relapse) over time. While there is no cure for MS, there are…

On October 19, 2018, we as a country celebrated the first-ever National Psoriatic Arthritis day. In keeping the momentum going we would like to highlight one of Medicinal My Way’s esteemed ambassadors, the President of the Canadian Spondylitis Association, Gerald Major. Gerald Major is a medical cannabis patient, a staunch chronic illness advocate and an arthritis survivor. Gerald’s Arthritis took him out of full-time employment 8 years ago when he was the Senior Vice President of Operations for Citibank Hedge Fund Services North America. Since then, he’s become the President of the Canadian Spondylitis Association, Vice President of Canadians for Fair Access to Medicinal Marijuana, board member and consumer group chair of the Arthritis Alliance of Canada, Best Medicine Coalition board member, and a member of Ontario Best Practice Research Initiative patient advisory committee. His passion for advocacy stems from his personal battle with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis, both…

Lifestyle adjustments. Pain medications. Questions.  All three of these have one thing in common: Psoriatic Arthritis. Today, October 19th 2018 will be recognized as National Psoriatic Arthritis Day. For those who do not know, Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that combines the swollen sore joints of arthritis with psoriasis in the peripheral joints (the joints of your arms and legs, including the elbows, wrists, hands and feet), the axial skeleton (primarily your spine, hips and shoulders and commonly comes with pain. Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis often experience joint pain, swelling, lower back pain, heel pain, and limited motion.  Medicinal My Way’s (MMW) own Ambassador Gerald Major understands the pain that all arthritis patients endure and he advocates for education and fair access for medicinal cannabis for all patients. Gerald Major is a medical cannabis patient, a staunch chronic illness advocate, and an arthritis survivor.  MMW is working with Gerald to educate…

“Former NHL enforcer Riley Cote in Toronto to promote cannabis as a tool to help all people.” – Sean Fitz-Gerald.   Sean Fitz-Gerald, a Journalist for The Athletic Toronto Media Company and attendee of the September 10th Luncheon with the Original 6, writes about Riley Cote’s mission to increase awareness about medicinal cannabis. “It’s no joke,” Cote explains. “All I want to do here today is share my story with you, my experience with you, and just offer this healing tool -at the very least, for you guys to go home and do your own research.” After retiring from the Philadelphia Flyers, Cote became a founder of Athletes for Care, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a community where athletes can find support, opportunity and purpose in life after a career in sports, as well as an Ambassador for Medicinal My way. His goal, as explained in Fitz-Gerald’s article, is…

The Business of Cannabis recently launched a new podcast series called the 419, a daily show exploring the latest news with top industry experts. On August 30th, 2018, our very own Rob Frid, Ambassador for Medicinal My Way and former professional league hockey player, guest starred on the live interactive show hosted by the CEO Jay Rosenthal. Frid shares his passion for destigmatizing medicinal cannabis by discussing his long-term battle with chronic pain, due to his hockey career, and the better quality of life he’s able to live after choosing medicinal cannabis. Countless patients all over the world are suffering from chronic pain, and negative stereotypes surrounding medicinal cannabis creates roadblocks for its accessibility to patients. It’s vital that we take the time to educate ourselves about medicinal cannabis and ultimately remove the stigma attached to it. Please click the link below to listen to the full podcast and to…

On September 10th 2018, Medicinal My Way and Athletes for Care will be co-hosting a private luncheon panel for the famed NHL Original Six to discuss current cannabis research, education, policy, support and advocacy efforts pertaining to athletes and the general public. Riley Cote, a former NHL player, and Dr. Mainville, a powerful advocate for improved and equal access to medicinal cannabis, will be speaking on behalf of Athletes for Care and Medicinal My Way. There will also be a tribute to Kurt Walker following his passing on August 17th 2018. The former Toronto Maple Leaf player and Founder of Dignity After Hockey was determined to unite the hockey and business communities in an effort to aid those in need. Kurt spent parts of three seasons with the Maple Leafs between 1976 and 1978, but the biggest impact of his hockey career came off the ice through Dignity After Hockey,…

Currently the Ontario government is aligned with the Federal government regarding their views on medicinal cannabis. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a prescribed medication and therefore does not get coverage on most insurance plans, including those that the provincial government subsidizes. The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) often provides funding for its members to access their medications. However, it does not recognize medicinal cannabis as an approved medication and does not provide funding for acquiring it. This leaves many in dire straits, either trying to get medicinal cannabis and not having enough money for other necessities in life, or going back to the opiates covered by the provincial government programs. Ontario’s Workplace and Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) views medicinal cannabis in much the same way as ODSP, although they have been quoted as evaluating coverage “on a case-by-case basis”. Many injured workers are denied…

One of the hurdles that limits access to medicinal cannabis, is the lack of coverage by insurance companies due to the lack of recognition of medicinal cannabis as a prescribed drug. Many patients that rely on medicinal cannabis struggle to afford it at the time of purchase, limiting their access and impeding their health and quality of life. However, there is an insurance company partnering with a widely reputable pharmacy that is changing the game and removing some of these obstacles for patients! Manulife has officially launched a medicinal cannabis program that will allow members to claim benefits for their medicinal cannabis expenses. Program sponsors are eligible to submit an application for the new program and will be able to start using these benefits as of September 2018. Manulife has also announced their new partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. This will give members of the new Medicinal Cannabis program…