Cannabis legalization in Canada: Lessons for the U.S. with Mark A. Ware, MD

In episode 5, Dr. Grant speaks with Dr. Mark Ware as he discusses the evolution of cannabis use in pain management, the implications of the Cannabis Act in Canada, and the differences in cannabis policies between Canada and the U.S. Dr. Ware highlights the importance of understanding the psychoactive effects of cannabis, the challenges in medical research, and the need for a cohesive regulatory framework to ensure safety and efficacy in cannabis products.

Bio

Mark A. Ware, MD, MBBS, MSc, MRCP

Dr. Ware is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and holds the Alan Edwards Chair in Clinical Pain at McGill University. He is also the Director of the interdisciplinary Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit at Montreal General Hospital.

He was a co-founder of the non-profit Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids and served as Executive Director from2007 to 2018. Dr. Ware has advised the Canadian federal government on cannabis policy since 2001, and in 2016, he served as the vice-chair of the Federal Task Force on the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in Canada. The task force’s report became Canadian law as the Cannabis Act in October 2018. 

Takeaways

• Patients reported that cannabis helped their pain.

• The Cannabis Act was developed to allow for legalization and regulation.

• Cannabis is not covered under most provincial drug frameworks.

• The sky didn't fall after legalization; no major public health issues arose.

• The consumer has become a lot more educated about cannabis products.

• There is a patchwork of cannabis regulations in the U.S.

• The industry didn't pick up on medical research as hoped after legalization.

• A federal strong policy would be a game changer for cannabis regulation.

• The psychoactive effects of cannabis can play a role in pain management.

• The narrative around cannabis is slowly changing from prohibition to acceptance.

Chapters

00:00 High5 Introduction

01:09 Intro & background of Dr. Mark Ware

02:08 Early Research and Patient Experiences

05:38 Cannabis as an Analgesic

07:53 The Cannabis Act: Overview and Features

09:43 The Evolution of the Cannabis Act

10:34 Medical Use and Prescription Challenges

12:06 Insurance and Coverage for Cannabis

12:58 Patient Conversations and Treatment Frameworks

15:40 Post-Legalization Insights and Observations

19:21 Provincial Variations in Cannabis Regulation

21:16 Impact on Medical Research

24:25 GPP v. GMP

27:27 Lessons for the U.S. from Canada’s Experience

33:20 Outro