These Insurance Companies Will Cover Your Medical Marijuana Prescription

Even though the recreational use of marijuana has been legalized in Canada, there is still much debate about the status of the substance as a drug that ought to be prescribed for the medical treatment. Owing to confusions regarding the therapeutic value of marijuana and the simultaneous delays in passing legislation that would regulate the medical use of the herb, insurers all across Canada are hesitant about offering coverage for medical marijuana prescriptions.

Having to pay for a medical expense and being unable to acquire relevant coverage can often get overwhelming for patients.

We will elucidate factors that contribute to the reluctance of insurers when offering coverage for medical marijuana expenses. In addition to this analysis, we will also present:

• A list of insurers that are extending coverage, detailing their insurance policies.
• The organizations that have extended coverage to employees.
• The therapeutic value of Marijuana.

In the hopes that it will facilitate greater access to medical marijuana and create avenues for best possible medical treatments that those in need deserve.

For the full terms of the ACMPR with interpretations, you may visit this link.

According to studies conducted by the Canadian government, at the end of the first fiscal quarter for 2018-2019 there were a total of 330,000 registered clients for medical marijuana pharmacies. These numbers do not accurately reflect the actual demand for marijuana, since high marijuana prices discourage the use of the substance for many deserving patients and subsequent registration for the substance.

While there is a burgeoning need to increase access to marijuana and legislation aimed at increasing access has been introduced, the cost of buying marijuana acts as an obstacle to the treatment of many individuals. This burden could potentially be borne by insurers, however very few insurance companies are willing to extend coverage for marijuana prescriptions.

There are a fair number of reasons cited by insurers when refusing to extend coverage for marijuana prescriptions to clients, which can be broadly categorized into two basic reasons:

1. The legal status of marijuana as a prescription drug
2. The costs associated with offering coverage

From an insurance company’s point of view, to extend medical coverage for a substance that has technically not been classified as fit for medical use is a violation of terms that dictate the services to be extended as part of a health plan. Insurance companies who extend coverage to medical marijuana, such as Sun Life, offer it as part of extended health plans that classify marijuana as medical equipment. For as long as Health Canada delays in attributing a DIN to marijuana, it is unlikely that many health insurers will offer coverage and unless a list of conditions is prepared that prescribe marijuana as a treatment method for specific medical conditions most insurers will offer coverage under very specific circumstances.

This does not in any way compromise the therapeutic value of marijuana however; Health Canada is currently working toward establishing medical marijuana as a prescription drug based on the standards set out by the Food and Drug Act.

The reduction in costs did not reflect the degree to which coverage was reduced, with costs just going down to $51 million by March 2018. This might serve as an indicator that perhaps more coverage needs to be offered to reduce the cost burdens on existing insurers however, it is a combination of legal and medical uncertainty that create barriers which hinder the creation of medical marijuana insurance market.

When considering the costs relative to pharmaceutical alternatives, medical marijuana can cost almost 4 times as high as other medications. Sometimes it is just cheaper for insurance providers to not cover medical marijuana.

It needs to be understood that most of the concerns that insurance providers have, stem from structural deficiencies in the medical marijuana industry. The absence of price controls, standards for professional practice for health care practitioners and regulations that would dictate the use of medical marijuana causes much unease and poses significant financial risks that are at the root of the lack of provision of insurance coverage for medical marijuana. This calls for a need to petition for greater market controls that will go a long way in increasing accessing to marijuana.

There are legal precedents where clients have taken their insurance companies to court and secured coverage for their medical cannabis such as: Jonathan Zaid at the University Of Waterloo and it is possible for employers to convince their insurance providers to develop group benefits plans as in the case of Loblaw and shoppers drug mart.

It is rather difficult to find entities that would cover medical cannabis as part of their benefits plans, owing to the fact that there are few of them around and some of them are not technically insurers. We use the term entities because the following list includes insurance companies, labour unions and organizations that offer coverage. This includes:

1. Sun life Financial
2. Veterans’ Affairs Canada
3. Manulife
4. Markers Insurance
5. Alberta Blue cross
6. Medreleaf
7. Ontario Public Service Employees Union
8. Labour International Union of North America
9. Employee Health Care Spending Accounts

Each of these entities has specific coverage or discount plans that could assist in covering the costs of your medical cannabis. We attempted to create an exhaustive list of entities that would assist in covering your treatment expenses, rather than just restrict it to insurance companies to incorporate all the possible ways in which you could relieve your burdens.

We shall now offer background information and some of the features of the coverage plans created by each of the companies.

Manulife

As of September 2018, Manulife began offering group benefits plans for medical marijuana to employers. This plan is not covered under standard health plans since marijuana has yet to be issued a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) and therefore has to be specifically opted for. The official name for the policy is the Medical Marijuana Program.

Manulife has made it clear that insurance claims can also be made under a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) since spending under an HCSA is not restricted to substances having been issued a DIN or NPN. In order to eligible for coverage under an HCSA, Manulife requires the beneficiaries to follow comply with the following regulations:

• The medical marijuana must be bought according to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation.
• The member must provide a copy of the Authorization to Possess Marijuana for Medical Purposes.

Manulife’s Medical Marijuana Program, includes a broad range of support measures for cannabis patients that are not included in other coverage plans for medical marijuana. More specifically, the plan includes:

• Member referral to specially trained pharmacists at the Shoppers Drug Mart Patient Care.
• Help with the co-ordination of medical marijuana distribution.
• Case Management, which includes patient oversight and outreach.

These measures ensure that Manulife monitors the progress of your condition and takes responsibility for consultation that could prove immensely beneficial for the treatment. Manulife is also currently developing an online billing system, so that members of the plan do not have to pay for expenses covered in the plan upfront.

A formal application may be submitted through the sponsor to get coverage from the Manulife Medical Marijuana Program. The program incorporates claims control and case management to regulate the issuance of policy to members. The conditions that Manulife covers as part of the program include:

• Stiffness and involuntary spasms in people suffering from multiple sclerosis.
• Nausea and vomiting in people undergoing chemotherapy.
• Chronic Neuropathic Pain.

Before approval for coverage, the member in question and their doctor will be required to submit information regarding their conditions that require the use of cannabis and treatment history. Upon submitting the information to a thorough clinical review, decisions will be made regarding the eligibility of the claim. Once approved, members will be extended the privileges of the Medical Marijuana Program.

The coverage plan includes ongoing case management, education, side-effect management, adherence management, counselling and email as well as phone support. The consultation and support programs shall be conducted by Shoppers Drug Mart patient care center. The coverage limits are negotiable as per member needs, as specified by the sponsor.

You can reach out to Manulife insurance representatives through this link.

Medreleaf

Medreleaf is a subsidiary of Aurora Cannabis that serves as a think tank for medical research in Canada. If you are living on a low-income government subsidy programs, medreleaf offers a flat 25% discount on all their Cannabis products.

The low income government subsidy programs that medreleaf works in association with are:

Federal Programs:

1. Canadian Pension Plan- Disability Benefits
2. Guaranteed Income Support
3. Old Age security
4. War Veteran’s Allowance.

Provincial Programs

1. Alberta Seniors Benefits
2. Assistance for children with Severe Disabilities
3. Assured Income for Severely Handicapped
4. Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail– Permanent
5. Employment and Assistance for persons with disabilities
6. Employment Insurance-Sickness Benefits
7. Long Term Disability Program- Private Insurer
8. Ontario Disability Support Program
9. Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income Support Program
10. Provincial “Works” or Employment Assistance Programs
11. Quebec Social Solidarity Program
12. Registration with Disability Support Services through your educational institution
13. Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID)
14. WSIB – Permanent Disability Benefits
15. Manitoba 55 Plus Program
16. Other provincial or territorial income or social assistance programs.

In order to qualify for the medreleaf, it is mandatory for applicants to be receiving assistance from one of these benefits programs. They must then fill out this form, to be submitted to Medreleaf.

The Medreleaf team will evaluate the applications on a case by case basis and then inform successful applicants of their enrollment into the program.

Labourers International Union of North America

The Labourer’s International Union of North America has also introduced a medical marijuana coverage to its members. This coverage has been extended in an attempt to curb the increased use of opioid in medical treatments.

LIUNA offers coverage for Cannabis due to the therapeutic value of the substance and only extends coverage to retirees, disabled workers and dependents. LIUNA local 625, the only LIUNA sub-division that is offering the medical marijuana benefit represents 1500 construction workers and 1600 dependents in the Windsor Area.

The coverage plan has been designed keeping in mind the health and safety considerations that regulate the use of cannabis in the workplace. According to reports from LIUNA officials, those individuals who are covered by LIUNA and are not actively engaged in the workplace (i.e. retirees, disabled employees and dependents) will have coverage for all the cannabis based products that they might require. However, those who are actively engaged in the workplace shall only be given access to cannabis oil, since the absence of THC in the substance does not render the user cognitively impaired.

You may contact LIUNA 625 business manager Rob Petroni at: 519-564-9522 or email: rpetroni@liuna625.ca.

Markers Insurance

Markers Insurance is a subsidy of the Evergreen Pacific Insurance Corporation. The company was set up in association with Alternative Health Association of Canada as agent and financial sponsor.

As compared to other insurance plan providers who only offered cannabis coverage as part of group benefits programs, Markers Insurance intends to launch individual coverage plans along with employer sponsored group benefits.

Initially announced to be launched in August 2018, the launch was postponed to October 2018 and is expected to be presented very soon.

For more information or to get in touch with Markers Insurance you may visit this link.

Getting a Prescription

The Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) clearly state that people may possess fresh or dried marijuana or cannabis oil if they carry it for medical use. It is important that the marijuana/cannabis has been purchased from:

• A licensed producer
• A Health Care practitioner in the course of treatment for a medical condition
• A hospital.

Coverage of costs of obtaining medical marijuana or cannabis

This section covers the various conditions under which individuals can seek out insurance coverage for medical marijuana under either state sanctioned health plans or private insurance plans as set out in group or individual benefits plans.

Extended Health Care Policies

Access to health benefits through sponsored coverage or individual plan does not depend on whether someone has had an accident. These policies apply to anyone who has a private insurance plan.

Coverage under Accident Benefits

If you get into an accident it is possible to get reimbursement under the heading of “medical benefits”.  According to the Statutory of Accidents Benefits Schedules in Ontario states that the medical benefit shall pay for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by or on behalf of the insured person as a result of the accident for:

• Medication
• Other goods of a medical or rehabilitative nature that the insurer agrees are essential for the treatment of the insured person, and for which benefit is not otherwise provided in this regulation.

After getting into a motor vehicle accident in 2009, Ms Doyon experienced onset of chronic pain and depression. Medical Marijuana was prescribed by her chronic pain specialist and her physician testified that Ms Doyon’s condition had significantly improved since the use of medical marijuana began.

Given the higher potency of the marijuana Ms Doyon procured, which were not Health Canada approved, as well as the significantly low costs of the marijuana, her claims were deemed reasonable by courts and she was awarded coverage.

The use of medical marijuana has been proven to be extremely effective for a wide range of conditions, if your primary physician is convinced that the use of marijuana will benefit your condition as well then, your insurer has no reason to not cover your insurance.

It is expected that in the coming years, many new insurers that cover medical marijuana will come up with group or individual plans. It is only a matter of time before coverage becomes common, as soon as all the legalities and medical considerations associated with medical marijuana have been resolved. If you wish to contribute, you can begin by actively assisting in the research efforts to prove the therapeutic value of marijuana and push for active governance to increase the accessibility to marijuana through state sponsored insurance plans or making coverage for medical cannabis a part of standard health care plans.

When a loved one falls victim to a severe illness their agony is difficult to witness. It is clear that disease is not just “physical”, there are psychological impacts that come from a fear of a relapse and the pain that one goes through. It is not the case that the use of marijuana is at odds with a symptomatic approach, but marijuana is capable of relieving much of the stress and anxiety associated with many illnesses and their treatment methods.

As earlier identified, the lack of coverage for medical marijuana comes from policy shortcomings in the regulation of medical marijuana. Market control and speeding up the process of developing regulations that govern the use of medical marijuana is only going to help improve the capabilities of health care systems in terms of providing holistic health care that caters to both the physical and the psychological aspects of illnesses.

It could be the case that much of the reluctance comes from a place of misunderstanding about the potential medical applicability of marijuana as a treatment method.  Auraceuticals has always held firm to the belief that marijuana has far more therapeutic value when used medicinally, rather than when used recreationally. There is ample evidence that indicates that marijuana should be made a part of conventional treatments of illnesses wherever applicable so that treatment methods are far more effective than the usual methods of symptomatic treatments of illnesses, in the physical sense, and not considering the psychological effects of it.

Just to make the point clear, we would like to restate the benefits of using marijuana by taking into account the physical and psychological impact of the use of the substance, while also highlighting the need to restrict the use of marijuana to medicinal use over recreational use.

These numbers have only increased over the years; this draws attention towards the need to develop better treatment options and increasing the accessibility of treatment to those that are suffering from mood disorders. It is a known fact that managing the precursors of mood disorders and other psychological conditions is far more effective than direct intervention when someone develops a certain condition. Prevention is better than curing the condition.

The use of pharmaceutical drugs to treat those with psychological conditions is the cause of much concern amongst patients. The impact of medications that directly affects the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain is known to cause damage in terms of the quality of life, aggravating symptoms and some use to treat conditions like insomnia (such as opioid-based medications) often risk addiction, withdrawal and in some cases a fatal overdose.

While clinically tested to be beneficial, the control of these medications is important to prevent damage inflicted by these drugs. We feel that this might also hold true of medical marijuana/cannabis while at the same time averting the risks associated with using other pharmaceutical methods of treating the psychological disorders.

According to the Canadian Mental Health association, the following facts and figures hold true about the state of mental disorders in the country:

1. 1 in 5 adults will experience mental health problems.
2. 8% of all adults develop major depression at some point in their lives.
3. Approximately 1% of all adults will develop bipolar disorder.
4. By 40 years old almost 50% of all the adult population in Canada will have developed a mental health problem.
5. The prevalence of schizophrenia is 1%.
6. The prevalence of anxiety disorders per household is 5%.
7. Only 1 in 5 children in Canada receive mental health care.
8. Mental disorders are the second highest hospital expenditure in Canada, after injuries, among the youth of the country.

We will now discuss the value of marijuana in the treatment of specific psychological conditions and suggest, based on research, which conditions will not be helped with the use of medical marijuana.

The study concluded that cannabis conclusively showed a reduction in anxiety symptoms and the causes of anxiety when the test subjects were exposed to situations where anxiety was previously observed. Research still needs to be conducted on how exactly cannabis achieves its anxiety reducing effects, i.e. what parts of the brain and what neurotransmitters does cannabis affect, yet the value of CBD as a potential treatment option was clearly established.

The study also took into account the potential for abuse and addiction when cannabis was used as a treatment for anxiety symptoms, by lowering the doses of CBD administered to the patients. It was concluded that if the drug administration is regulated as per the patient’s requirement the risks of developing addiction or experiencing withdrawal were significantly reduced without reducing the healing effect of cannabis.

A study aimed at trying to understand the paths cannabinoids took in achieving their effects on animals with similar brain structures as the human brain, concluded that cannabis did induce anti-depression and anti-anxiety effects. It was observed that cannabis can achieve these effects because it did not allow the activation of certain neuroreceptors (areas of the brain responding to and regulating the effects of neurotransmitters) that are central to the experience of anxiety and depression. The researchers concluded that the cannabinoids in the cannabis reacted far better with the neuroreceptors as compared to other treatment options for anxiety.

‘Harm Avoidance’ has been associated with the experience of anxiety symptoms in many people.  One of the key cognitive components observed in individuals who have anxiety, is hypersensitivity to environmental factors. People who have anxiety or are likely to develop anxiety often exhibit mental processes that point towards a skewed understanding of the risk involved in any activity, this perception of the risk leads to increased inhibition and a sense of unease when people are exposed to certain situations.

Due to these factors, people tend to increasingly avoid engaging in activities or actions that are posing the risk to them; the translation of an increased sense of risk and the resulting lack of action is termed as ‘Harm Avoidance’. This is a cognitive bias that reinforces beliefs about the world that only aggravate anxiety and one that is easily remedied through the use of marijuana. Marijuana is known to induce euphoria and reduce harm avoidance in individuals which then reduces the anxiety associated with taking action.

Cannabis has also been observed as producing far fewer side effects as compared to the medication used to treat anxiety. Recent research in the role of using measured doses of cannabis as a treatment method have also successfully identified the dosage that would prove to be the most effective.

This particular research study was aimed at developing a review of a large body of information on the therapeutic value of marijuana; it was concluded that many studies have pointed towards using small and regulated dosages as an effective treatment method that does not have a sedative effect on patients while inducing very little pro-anxiety effects on them. In addition to these healing effects, it has also been observed that the use of cannabis also has an excellent safety profile since it does not pose high risks of overdose and addiction.

There is a rather wide range of reasons that may cause the onset of depression, from biological precursors such as genetics, malfunction of the brain that causes neurotransmitter imbalance. The use of anti-depressants that counter the insomnia and the mood effects of depression (usually opioid based) often pose the risk of addiction, withdrawal and sometimes fatal overdose.

It is possible to develop treatment methodologies that incorporate medicinal marijuana to overcome the risks that usually show up when conventional methods of treatment are employed without compromising the effectiveness of the treatment in question.

There is an increasing amount of research that is pointing out the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD, due to the presence of anti oxidants and the anti-anxiety effects that it has. By increasing the neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) which those who have been diagnosed with depressive disorders are deficient in, these cannabinoids present in marijuana manage to allow management of the conditions as the patients continue psychological counselling can prove an effective strategy to counter depressive disorders.

Although there is plenty of research that corroborates the claims about the therapeutic value of cannabis/marijuana when treating mood disorders, there are reasons to believe that the use of marijuana for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or personality disorders is not as effective.

Psychological conditions that involve psychosis whether in the form of hallucinations or delusions might potentially be aggravated due to the chemical reactions of cannabinoids with neurotransmitters. What serves as a medicinal tool may become harmful if the use is not clearly regulated and comprehensive strategies not developed that suggest the optimal treatment paths while including marijuana as an integral component.

The stress- and anxiety-relieving attributes of medical marijuana is apparent and when used in conjunction to treatments for non-psychological conditions could serve as an effective tool to manage anxiety and depression observed in those with chronic and potentially terminal illnesses.

If such a treatment plan is developed, it would significantly improve the quality of life of those who have contracted these illnesses and are going through difficult times emotionally-speaking, as a result of their illnesses.

Neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and epilepsy are attributed to the inflammation of nerve endings. This inflammation is commonly attributed to the oxidation stress experienced by neural pathways which causes dysfunctions in the central nervous system. The use of marijuana to reduce the inflammation in nerve endings helps to slow down the progression of neurodegenerative conditions (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s) by reducing the oxidation damage done to the nervous system. Marijuana has also been shown to reduce the frequency and the intensity of the seizures experienced by epilepsy patients.

Marijuana also has analgesic properties that allow it to serve as a way to manage pain associated with chemotherapy and chronic joint pain. Cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy often report nausea, joint pain, stomach cramps, insomnia and loss of appetite. The regulated use of marijuana has been shown to reduce the pain associated with chemotherapy, has improved sleeping times of chemotherapy subjects and has been reported to improve the appetites to allow patients to maintain health through nutritious diets.  Similar impacts have also been observed by those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Given both the physical and the mental benefits of using marijuana, it is possible to develop a holistic approach towards disease control and patient management by incorporating marijuana in treatment methodology. Fact of the matter is, marijuana is medication that can be used to achieve a broad range of treatment goals far more effectively and efficiently than other types of treatment.

There is a need to conduct more research on the subject in order to truly establish the medicinal value of the drug and it is only a matter of time before it gets established as such. If insurance coverage truly is restricted by the lack of clinical evidence and policy implications, given the ample evidence that points towards a greater use of marijuana in health care; quite soon it will be less difficult to get coverage.

Health care institutions, practitioners and those who are considering the use of marijuana to manage their conditions need to understand the importance of including marijuana in treatment strategies. The sooner it is appreciated that rehabilitation efforts through the use of marijuana will become far more effective than they currently are, the sooner it is that more insurance providers make marijuana a part of their standard health care plans and more insurers will follow suit. Until such a point comes, many deserving people will fail to receive the health care that they have a right to.

Marijuana use may have associated risks along with medical benefits, but the same can be said for any number of pharmaceutical products being covered under health care insurance plans. The treatment of insomnia with opioid based medication has similar risks as that posed by marijuana and likely to be far more severe.

Addiction to marijuana is not as intense as addiction to opioid based medication. Overdose injuries from cannabis are uncommon to say the least. If addiction and withdrawal do occur, the effects are not as intense as those for opioid addiction. Fact of the matter is, marijuana presents a viable solution that mitigates the risks posed by conventional treating methods for a wide range of conditions without compromising treatment effectiveness.

Just as with any other pharmaceutical product there is a need to develop standards and regulations that would dictate the medical use of marijuana. Earlier, we have made reference to the institutional obstacles that slow down the process of creating policies to control the use of medical marijuana; there are standards of practice that many administrative boards have implemented yet there is no legally binding set of instructions.

There is an obvious drawback to this; those who require marijuana for medical purposes and cannot afford it shall be stripped of access to a viable treatment option. The question that needs to be asked is; when there is a less painful, equally as effective treatment method why is it not a part of standard health care spending plans? The answer is rather simple; for as long as marijuana is considered a drug to be used for fun, there will be little research and policy efforts that would allow it to be established as a valid treatment method.

Auraceuticals has always stood for the medical use of marijuana and all the controls over marijuana that come with it. We believe that it is possible to bring marijuana under the heading of health care supplement in forms such as CBD oil (isolated or full spectrum) or as a part of fully fledged treatment plans for illnesses. We believe that the recreational use of marijuana is likely to be detrimental and will have harmful implications for the exercise of health care leaving it reductive and ineffective.

It is ironic that it is easier to buy and use marijuana for recreational purposes, yet the access to medical marijuana is still as difficult as it was before. The problems associated with the regulation and controls of marijuana are symptoms of a deeper problem. Whether it is a lack of medical research, skewed awareness of the risks associated with the use or institutional reluctance to admit the value of marijuana, each of these phenomena are based on ill and preconceived notions about marijuana.

Cannabis contains many other chemical substances such as cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabidiol (CBD) that are responsible for the healing properties of cannabis. Most medical cannabis products use these two substances in isolation during production. This implies that while it is possible to use cannabis by-products in a manner that’s therapeutic, it is not necessary that one would get “high” when using these products. If you are not entering into an altered state of consciousness, then there is no dysfunctional behaviour associated with the use of medical cannabis.

Of course, it is not the case that THC has no therapeutic value in controlled doses. In fact, it is an overstatement to say that THC even causes dysfunction to the extent that it ought not to be considered for medical use, since it does not impair individuals to the extent that other possible treatments would.

While the risks associated with marijuana, when used recreationally, may be as manageable as with the use of alcohol this does not change the need for control. Many individuals choose to self medicate with marijuana or keep buying substandard strains that may be potentially harmful when used. This therapeutic theme, as one of the major reasons for the use of marijuana, requires much attention.

We have stated that the absence of a DIN is a major reason for why insurance providers do not extend coverage for medical marijuana. The narrative for recreational marijuana poses a problem because there is no Drug Identification Number for recreational drugs. This poses no problems insofar as the recreational use of marijuana is concerned; there is a bigger problem when certain strains are used medicinally as well as recreationally.

One possible policy conflict we ought to expect is that once certain strains of marijuana are qualified for medical use and are assigned a DIN, the regulations that dictate the procurement and use of medicinal marijuana will clash with the regulations for recreational use. There will be a need to extend much more stringent control on the extension of coverage for medical marijuana, since insurers will need to ensure that no coverage is being extended for recreational use.

Another problem this poses is creating legislation for a drug that lies somewhere in the grey area between medicinal and recreational use becomes far more complicated. Lawmakers would have to either make marijuana an over the counter medication that requires no prescription to buy, which poses the risk of marijuana abuse and leaves the insurer open to exploitation. From a legislative stand point there is also a need to change the perspective with which marijuana regulation is formed.

Initiating conversations on marijuana that are centered around standard pharmaceutical testing and enlightening the wider society about the therapeutic role of marijuana would be a first step in increasing access to medical marijuana.

Even though many claim that the legalization of recreational marijuana is a step towards greater access to marijuana, the grounds for the legalization are still to curtail access of marijuana to adolescents. Lawmakers and institutions are unwilling to accept the possibility that marijuana could be a useful addition to health care given the all-round wholesome effects of controlled marijuana use.

For as long as the underlying principles that dictate all policy and research on marijuana are biased against the substance, it is very unlikely that perceptions on marijuana will ever change. This creates a cyclical chain of events where negativity associated with marijuana leads to lack of research and awareness that just feeds into the already existing negativity about the substance. This chain can only be broken by a proactive approach that undoes the negativity through institutional support.

It is every human’s right that they seek out and get the treatment that they feel is going to help with their illnesses. Given the increasing role of marijuana and the observed effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating or managing a wide range of conditions, it is only right that any and all possible measures be taken to ensure that patients get access to the drug.

The reasons for the reluctance of insurers to extend coverage from marijuana come from an underlying position of ignorance regarding the medical value of the substance. This value can only be established if institutional and legal frameworks facilitate the creation of a narrative that conclusively states that marijuana does in fact have medical value.

This will require letting go of the narrative that recreational use of marijuana is not harmful when factual evidence would state otherwise. The larger society needs to be made aware of the pharmaceutical application and the risks associated with the use of marijuana. Once the proper narrative regarding marijuana is established and is complemented with institutional support as well as factual evidence, it would go a long way in making marijuana accessible to all those in need.

Auraceuticals is an active proponent of the use of medical marijuana, making efforts to educate, facilitate and provide the best quality medical cannabis related services that we can.