A medical marijuana pilot study that could register up to 500 seniors living in long-term care facilities is set to roll out in Ontario, making it not only the biggest but the first of its kind.
Cannabis and cannabis oil will become legal in Canada on Oct. 17.
Cannabis producer Canopy Growth has announced it is partnering with the Ontario Long Term Care Association to conduct the six-month study to better learn how medical cannabis use could potentially replace other treatments for pain and cognitive function.
The pilot also aims to identify best practices in the areas of safety and quality for long-term care facilities that implement a medical marijuana program.
“Medical cannabis is currently prescribed for residents as appropriate, but it’s still an emerging area,” long-term care association CEO Candace Chartier said in a media release. “Through this partnership and pilot study, we hope to provide more clarity to long-term care clinicians and frontline staff about the use of medical cannabis for residents.”
It has not been confirmed if any Barrie-area facilities will take part in the pilot study.
The long-term care association, which represents about 70 per cent of Ontario’s 630 long-term care homes, will lead the pilot study and is expected to present its findings sometime next spring.
Canopy Growth will provide all the product from its Spectrum Cannabis brand.
According to the association’s This Is Long Term Care 2018 report, two out of three long-term care residents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. About 90 per cent of residents, overall, have some form of cognitive impairment from other causes as well, such as stroke and memory loss, the report states.
“There is clearly an interest in the long-term care space to explore medical cannabis as an alternative to traditional medications for pain and degenerative cognitive function,” Canopy Growth president and CEO Mark Zekulin said in the announcement.
“The pilot study we’ve announced ... is the first step in developing an evidence-based, best practice approach to medical cannabis that will result in consistent care for thousands of seniors," he added.
Meanwhile, the City of Barrie has not yet made a decision if it will allow bricks-and-mortar retail pot shops in the community after legalization. It has until Jan. 22, 2019 to opt out of the province’s retail plan for the product.
