Medicinal Marijuana in the Yukon

The United States is also gradually shifting towards more relaxed attitudes surrounding cannabis consumption, having several states allowing for legal recreational consumption with even more making it legal for medicinal use.

And then there’s the countries like the Netherlands (Amsterdam in particular) that have a vibrant cafe culture where you can actually go and sit down to legally order marijuana along with your cup of coffee.

There are even some countries that are known for their rather strict penalties for anyone caught in possession of drugs – like Thailand – that are beginning to explore options for legalizing medicinal marijuana.

It’s definitely a sign of the times. What was once seen as taboo, cannabis is now widely recognized for its beneficial properties. With that in mind, we’ve decided to put together this brief guide specifically for residents of the Yukon territory to answer any questions you may have about acquiring your own prescription for medicinal marijuana.

How to Get a License for Medicinal Marijuana in the Yukon

Unlike countries like the U.S. where the laws involving acquiring medicinal marijuana can vary greatly depending on the state you live in, there is only one single legislation for the entirety of Canada – the aforementioned ACMPR.

According to this legislation, individuals who wish to acquire a prescription for medicinal marijuana must take the following steps:

1. You must first schedule an appointment with the physician who is primarily responsible for your care. After speaking with your physician about your condition and symptoms, they may or may not decide to fill out the required medical documentation that you will need to purchase medicinal marijuana legally.
2. You’ll need to sign a treatment agreement that states you understand clearly exactly what your obligations are (legally and medically) regarding your medicine. With that out of the way, your physician should fill out your documentation for you.
3. Once you have the necessary medical documentation, you then have a few options as to how you can get your medicinal marijuana. You can either submit your documentation to a federally licensed producer to register as a patient, or submit it to Health Canada in order to be able to grow your own cannabis legally. You can also choose to designate somebody else to be responsible for growing it for you.

Should you decide to register with a licensed producer, they will send you a certificate that shows you are a registered patient. You will need this certificate in order to show legal proof that you’re authorized to purchase medicinal marijuana. Some producers may also send you a small wallet sized card instead.

Medicinal Marijuana vs. Traditional Medications

The decision to try medical marijuana over the more traditional prescribed medications for your condition is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

While mostly safe for use, there can still be some unwanted side effects and risks associated with cannabis consumption. Overall though, they pale in comparison to the wide range of negative effects that are commonly associated with many popular drugs that are usually prescribed.

This is why it’s so important to work closely with your primary care physician in order to come up with a proper treatment plan. Your doctor should be able to provide you with recommendations on the best way for you to consume your cannabis, the proper dosage, as well as being able to answer any other questions you may have.

In the end, we feel that the vast majority of people out there who suffer from a condition that’s known to be treatable with medicinal marijuana have very little to lose and a lot to gain from giving it a try. This is especially true if you’re currently taking prescription medicine that you feel leaves a lot to be desired.

In the event that you do have trouble getting your family physician to agree to writing you a prescription, you still have some options. We would recommend consulting with some of the licensed producers around the Yukon – many of them also have in-house doctors who would be more than willing to work with you in order to help you find relief for your condition.