Canadian medical cannabis registrations have fallen to their lowest level since the legalization of recreational marijuana in late 2018.
The number of active patient registrations with a federal license holder was 212,700 as of the end of March, 38% lower than the 345,520 active registrations in October 2018. In the first half of calendar 2023, spending on medical cannabis amounted to CA$135 million, the lowest first-half total since 2016. Canadian patients purchased CA$410 million of cannabis products for medical use in 2022, 7.4% lower than in 2021. The Canadian government has been resisting calls to dispense medical cannabis in pharmacies, causing concerns among healthcare practitioners. The lack of standards in the medical cannabis industry has increased apprehension of healthcare practitioners to use the drug in their treatment. The Canadian government's commitment to taxing medical cannabis at the same rate as recreational marijuana is another factor driving patients away from the medical system regulated by Health Canada. Canada's medical cannabis market has seen a 50% increase in exports in 2022-23, with products worth CA$160 million, compared to CA$107 million in 2021-22. This growth is attributed to a decrease in domestic medical sales. A potential solution is for provinces to implement their own medical systems, but Health Canada should lead by placing medical cannabis within a pharmacy and traditional medicine framework. Experts are concerned about the potential misuse of medical cannabis, particularly among young adults under 30.
