Applying for a medical license to grow in Canada is actually a very simple process. Even though it’s now possible to grow a few weed plants for fun under 2018’s Cannabis Act, many Canadians are still opting for medical growing – and this isn’t just because the application process is easy.
One of the biggest advantages of growing with a medical license rather than recreationally is the ability to grow a large number of plants for personal use. This is especially helpful for patients who choose to juice cannabis buds or create things like extracts, butters, and edibles.
In other words, growing 4 recreational plants (which is legally allowed through the Cannabis Act) just doesn’t cut it for some medical patients. But before you jump headfirst and apply for an ACMPR license, there are a few things you should know about the application process and the program in general.
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Getting an RX May Be Harder Than You Think
The main stipulation for applying to become a medical grower through Health Canada’s ACMPR is to receive an official prescription for medical marijuana. For patients with a well-documented medical history and solid proof that medical marijuana is necessary, this shouldn’t be too hard.
However, for patients who don’t have a lot of medical records or who don’t have a solid relationship with cannabis just yet, it’ll be harder than you think. Even with the increased acceptance and legalization relating to marijuana, many doctors still aren’t willing to prescribe weed to patients.
Part of the reason for this is that some doctors are stuck and the past and their beliefs might not be as liberal as the rest of the world. But even for doctors who are fully supportive of marijuana for medical purposes, many of them still fear the potential legal ramifications of writing weed prescriptions to their patients.
The good news is that there are services available that specialize in connecting docs with patients who are seeking treatment through cannabis, which we’ll cover next.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
It’s possible to become an ACMPR grower without any outside help, but the reality is that the process isn’t always easy. But you’re not alone. Companies like Cannabis Growing Canada are dedicated to helping medical patients get licensed so that they can access the treatment they need to live healthier, more fulfilling lifestyles.
Patients who opt to hire a consulting service to help with the application process have it easy. Although these services aren’t free, paying for help is entirely worth it. And another thing to remember is that once you’re licensed, asking for help is a must (especially if this is your first time growing).
There are tons of resources for growers who aren’t quite sure what they’re doing – and not just in Canada. This includes social media groups, blog posts, and scientific articles; all you need to do is hop on Google and start searching.
Every License Comes With Different Terms
In some countries where medical growing is legal, there are very specific terms for things like plant counts, storage limitations, and possession regulations. There are of course rules in place set by Health Canada, but what’s different in the Great White North is that every medical growing license comes with different terms and conditions.
The main determining factor for Canadian medical growers is the size of the prescription they have been written. It makes sense that a patient that is written an RX for 50 grams per day be allowed to grow significantly more plants than someone with a 5 grams per day prescription.
The other major difference between licenses has to do with the growing location. Someone who wants to grow outdoor plants won’t be allowed to grow as many as an indoor grow op. This is because outdoor plants are capable of becoming much larger than indoor ones.
Lastly, there are some major differences in how license holders access their medical cannabis. With an ACMPR license, there are technically 3 options. The first is to simply buy medical marijuana from producers who are legally approved by the government. This is the best choice for patients who don’t have any interest in home cannabis cultivation. The second option is to grow from home, and as mentioned before, the number of plants allowed has to do with prescription size and growing location. Option #3 is to designate someone to grow in your place, which is ideal for patients who still want the perks of home-grown marijuana but don’t want to actually grow on their own.
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