The legalization and regulation of marijuana has been a contentious topic among citizens, health care providers, and policy makers. In Canada, marijuana for medication therapy was legalized in 2001, and can be obtained from producers licensed by Health Canada with authorization by a healthcare practitioner.1,2 Additionally, individuals with medical marijuana prescriptions can grow a limited quantity of cannabis for personal use.2 Along with current regulations on cannabis for medical purposes, the Canadian government is exploring the topic of marijuana legalization for recreational use. Although there are many points related to marijuana legalization and regulation, from both a criminal and a public health standpoint, one major …show more content…
Recreational marijuana differs from medical marijuana in a variety of ways. For example, individuals who seek recreational marijuana may want strains that contain a higher percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol, which contains psychoactive properties, whereas medical marijuana may have lower amounts of this component.1 The role of a pharmacist is to provide medication knowledge to both patients and other health care providers. Thus, due to the non-treatment use of recreational marijuana, it would not be suitable for pharmacists to be providing such services. Even though marijuana could be used in treatment and in pain relief management, it is still a substance that has harmful effects, such as negative changes in neural activity in adolescent marijuana users and increased stress of the cardiovascular system.10 By separating the sale of medical and recreational marijuana, it provides a distinction between the two products – with the former being used as medication while also not condoning its use in a recreational manner. In Colorado and Washington, two states that have legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana, there is a clear differentiation between the two – marijuana for medical purposes have specific guidelines and dosage forms attached to the product.5 Thus, when not used in the context of treatment and management of illness, it should not be sold at pharmacies for the purpose of proper