Driving while impaired by cannabis, or any other drug is illegal (and dangerous).
This includes operating cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles, off-road vehicles and any form of industrial or recreational equipment.
When compared to other substances, such as alcohol or opiates, cannabis offers a lower potential for addiction. While alcohol or opiates can cause fatal overdoses, based on current information, cannabis overdose is not fatal. Health Canada reports that 1 out of every 11 Canadians with long-term use can develop some form of cannabis addiction.
Travelling with any form of cannabis product, whether you are leaving or entering Canada, is illegal and can result in serious criminal penalties, both at home and abroad.
Despite cannabis’ status in Canada, people that use medical cannabis, you may face penalties and criminal charges if their ability to drive is deemed to have been impaired by cannabis.
Travellers, mail, courier and commercial shipments continue to be subject to the Canada Customs Act and may be examined for prohibited goods, including cannabis and cannabis products.
Canntab’s products are formulated to have improved bioavailability (meaning to reduce the “first pass” effect.) Oral administration is the most common and convenient route among various routes of drug delivery, as it offers higher patient compliance. However, the poor aqueous solubility and poor metabolic stability of cannabinoids are major limitations in successful oral drug delivery. Extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism is one of the principal reasons for poor oral bioavailability of cannabinoids.
Canntab uses nanotechnology-based drug delivery to overcome the challenges associated with the oral route of administration of cannabinoids. Our formulation should inhibit hepatic first-pass metabolism to enhance the oral bioavailability of both THC, CBD and other active cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. By reducing hepatic first-pass metabolism, enhanced systemic availability of cannabinoids can be achieved. Ultimately, this technology results in improved bioavailability, reduction in dose and side effects – ultimately leading to enhanced patient compliance.
Cannabis has a safety profile that is better in comparison to many other medications, with no reported deaths due to overdose.
THC-mediated side effects are most common and are usually dose-dependent. Using a ‘start low and go slow’ dosing can help reduce the side effects of THC. Also, combining CBD with THC may further reduce those effects.
Common side effects include drowsiness/fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth and anxiety, and can be reduced or prevented altogether by starting at a low dose and slowly increasing the dose amount until the desired effect is obtained.
Contact our Client Care Team for more information about cannabis-educated practitioners in your area. You can also visit our Virtual Clinic to arrange a free online consultation with a qualified healthcare practitioner from the comfort of your home.
You can become a Canntab Therapeutic patient in just few easy steps. Complete our online application and then have your medical document signed by your practitioner and submit it directly to Canntab Therapeutics via Fax or mail. Get started here.
Private Insurance
As cannabis does not have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) such as many pharmaceutical drugs, it is not covered by most private insurers. However, some private insurance companies offer coverage for medical cannabis, but do have some restrictions such as certain conditions and circumstances. For example, insurance companies such as Sun Life Financial, provide coverage for only certain conditions. These conditions include: pain associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV and palliative care for serious illnesses.
Health Care Spending Account
This can be used for the purchase of medical cannabis.
Claim as a medical expense
One of the biggest benefits for medical cannabis consumers is the ability to write off their cannabis medication during tax time. Medical cannabis users may claim their cannabis medication as a “Medical Expense”. In order for this to occur, cannabis must have been purchased through a Licensed Producer and the user must have a valid receipt of purchase.
Coverage for Veterans
Veteran Affairs covers medical cannabis for veterans at a cost of $8.50 per gram for up to 3 grams per day.
Patients take cannabis for a number of symptoms and/or conditions which include pain, to help with sleep, anxiety, seizures, nausea, and to improve appetite.
Medical cannabis is available in dried form, oils, capsules, edibles and topicals. Canntab Therapeutics has the first hard tablet formulation for medical patients.
Smoking cannabis has similar effects to those of tobacco. These effects can include risks to lung health such as bronchitis, lung infections, chronic cough and increased mucus buildup in the chest. There have not been long-term studies looking at the harms of vaping. However, it is less harmful than smoking, decreasing exposure to products of combustion, but not eliminating exposure.