Pharmacists should counsel users of medical cannabis, but should they be dispensing it?

Canada has, since 2001, regulated the medical use of cannabis. To access medical cannabis, individuals must first obtain written authorization from a physician or nurse practitioner and then fax or mail the authorization form to a licensed producer, a commercial vendor approved and regulated by Health Canada. Licensed producers then ship the cannabis directly to the individual’s residence. Authorized individuals also have the option of cultivating cannabis for personal use. While Health Canada regulates the quality of the cannabis products available for sale (ensuring that they are not contaminated by mold or pesticide residue, for instance), there is no regulation of the levels of its 2 primary active ingredients, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Moreover, prescribers are not required to indicate the levels of THC and CBD on the authorization form, which is known as a “medical document.” Some patients therefore have some latitude in selecting cannabis potency