Medical cannabis deserves its own market stream

Pharmacies have role to play,

With the lion’s share of attention currently focused on how British Columbia’s new recreational cannabis market will operate, it’s imperative that we commit to distinct differentiations between medical and recreational uses.

These streams are not interchangeable. Moving forward, we must ensure that the medical cannabis stream is strengthened and becomes more accessible to serve the needs of patients in the province.

As the first Canadian pharmaceutical company to enter the medical cannabis field, Sandoz Canada believes that we can be a responsible partner in guiding and shaping this medical cannabis stream, and keeping it viable for patients. Recently, we finalized an agreement with Tilray, a Health Canada-approved licensed producer of medical cannabis based in Nanaimo, to provide access to non-combustible, highquality medical cannabis options for patients.

We see an opportunity to further legitimize medical cannabis as a treatment for patients in consultation with their doctor, embrace new clinical research, enhance education to health-care providers, and identify new ways for patients to have broader access for their medical needs.

Health Canada reports that almost 300,000 Canadians, including close to 11,000 in B.C., have registered with licensed producers to access medical cannabis, and that more than 13,000 medical practitioners have provided a medical document for clients authorizing the use of a medical cannabis product for their medical conditions. As these numbers increase, we need to ensure that patients have the ability to access the right treatment with confidence in their system under the current Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (to be replaced in October 2018 by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes provisions of the Cannabis Regulations).

There is no reason why the distribution and health-care system support of medical cannabis should be treated differently than for pharmaceutical drugs. We have the established standards to provide access to unique highquality products, resources for research, and professional medical education. We also have the experience to work with public and private payers to broaden future access through health-care professionals. We recognize this will take time as the industry evolves, but we are motivated by our mission to discover new ways to improve and extend the quality of lives of Canadians.

If cannabis is used to treat a medical condition, we believe that it should be distributed through an appropriate channel to properly regulate the therapeutic intent of the treatment. If medical cannabis is authorized by a health-care professional, we think it would be logical for it to be distributed by another professional, such as a pharmacist. We want patients to benefit from adequate followup and guidance from healthcare professionals if they wish.

Data from a report for the Canadian Pharmacists Association (“Medical Marijuana and Pharmacists”) show that British Columbians want broader access to medical cannabis, including alternatives to current dispensing. B.C. residents believe that pharmacists are appropriate professionals to dispense and to provide clinical oversight on medical cannabis, including being on the lookout for potentially negative interactions with a patient’s other prescriptions. Residents also believe that medical cannabis should be treated like other medications, and that pharmacists are well trained to dispense medical cannabis and provide patient counselling.

We recognize that many stakeholders will watch our move into this highly visible field. Some may even question the role we, and future pharmaceutical companies, will play in medical cannabis. The pharmaceutical industry has the capabilities and sophistication to support a medical treatment market and has the experience to support patient needs. We strongly believe that the distribution of, and patient support for, medical cannabis should not be any different than any prescription products for medical conditions. We must keep a focus on this medical stream.

Pharmacists are well trained to dispense medical cannabis and provide patient counselling.