New federal guidance on cannabis for medical purposes is drawing attention to a growing gap in Canadian healthcare: patients are increasingly using cannabis to manage symptoms, but often without consistent clinical education, dosing support, or medication-interaction screening.
In January 2026, Health Canada published Information on the Use of Cannabis for Medical Purposes, a consumer-facing guidance document outlining considerations including contraindications, possible drug interactions, dosing and titration principles, and potential adverse effects.
Health Canada also notes that legal cannabis products produced and sold in Canada have not been authorized to treat specific diseases or symptoms and have not been reviewed to determine whether they are safe or effective for those purposes.
"This is upside-down healthcare," said Ajay Chahal, PharmD, Co-founder, Apothecare. "Health Canada has done the work to put clear guidance in front of Canadians, but it's absurd that patients are still forced to become their own medical educators. We've created a reality where patients are forced to rely on budtenders for pseudo-clinical advice, with product recommendations for sleep, pain, anxiety, or cancer-related symptoms based on anecdotes like 'this worked for someone I know.' That's not informed care, it's a symptom of a system that has failed to keep up."
Health Canada states that cannabis use involves health risks that are not yet fully understood and advises Canadians to consult their healthcare provider before starting cannabis for medical purposes.
"That warning should scare the system into action," said Anushya Vijayaraghevan, PharmD, Co-founder, Apothecare. "Patients shouldn't have to gamble with their health to get symptom relief. If a patient is taking antidepressants, blood thinners, seizure medications, or has mental health vulnerabilities, the stakes are real. Yet too often, patients are left navigating product decisions and trial-and-error dosing with little guidance from the clinical system that is supposed to protect them."
In response to Health Canada's guidance, Apothecare is calling for four immediate actions to close the cannabis education gap in Canadian healthcare. First, medical cannabis education must be integrated into the core training of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and allied healthcare providers, with standardized learning outcomes that address dosing, contraindications, impairment, and drug interactions. Cannabis is already being used by patients across the country, and clinicians need a shared baseline of knowledge to manage it safely and consistently.
Second, clinical cannabis counselling should be established as a patient safety standard. Canadians deserve access to evidence-based guidance that is medically responsible, consistent across care settings, and not dependent on retail environments. Without clinical counselling, patients are often left to navigate complex decisions on their own, increasing the risk of misuse, adverse effects, or missed interactions with other therapies.
Third, continuing education requirements must be modernized through professional bodies so clinicians can keep pace as cannabis use becomes more common in symptom management. Ongoing training would allow healthcare providers to counsel patients with confidence, screen for risk factors, and adapt care as the evidence evolves, rather than relying on outdated information or personal comfort levels.
Finally, cannabis should be treated like other pharmacologically active therapies in routine care. This means normalizing patient disclosure, documenting use in medical records, and supporting appropriate follow-up and monitoring. Moving away from a trial-and-error approach will help integrate cannabis into standard care practices and improve patient safety and outcomes.
"This isn't about being for or against cannabis," said Vijayaraghevan. "It's about accountability. The system cannot ignore something this widespread and then act surprised when patients are confused, under-informed, or harmed. We have the knowledge and the clinical framework to do better, but it must be prioritized."
"This should not be controversial," said Chahal. "If millions of Canadians are using cannabis for medical purposes, then millions of Canadians deserve professional-grade education, consistent clinical oversight, and clear safety standards."
For more information:
Apothecare
https://apothecare.ca/
