Health Canada’s Medical Marihjuana Access Regulations

Canada [2001]

Also known as: MMAR

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

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In 2001, Health Canada implemented the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations, establishing a framework for the legal production and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes. This was a response to an Ontario court order mandating the government to provide a legal supply of marijuana to authorized patients. Under these regulations, qualified patients, approved by Health Canada, could receive government-grown marijuana distributed through their physicians. This program aimed to provide access for individuals suffering from chronic or catastrophic illnesses, offering relief for symptoms such as pain and nausea.1

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medical cannabis
Herbal cannabis products in medicine
…medical use in Canada under Health Canada’s Medical Marihuana Access Regulations (MMAR), which were enacted in 2001. The cannabis plants cultivated for CanniMed are grown under carefully controlled conditions, and the drug is standardized to contain approximately 12.5 percent THC. A similar approach has been taken in the Netherlands, where…
Read More
…medical use in Canada under Health Canada’s Medical Marihuana Access Regulations (MMAR), which were enacted in 2001. The cannabis plants cultivated for CanniMed are grown under carefully controlled conditions, and the drug is standardized to contain approximately 12.5 percent THC. A similar approach has been taken in the Netherlands, where…
Read More