Pursuant to s. 55(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, c. 19, the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, SOR/2013-119, defines the circumstances for which the production and access to marijuana for medical purposes is permitted. With some exceptions, these regulations came into force June 7, 2013.
SOR/2013-119 s. 267 repealed the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, SOR/2001-227; the repeal was in force on March 31, 2014. See SOR/2013-119 s.268 "Coming into Force" for further details.
SOR/2001-227 had been in force as of July 30, 2001. On October 7, 2003, the Ontario Court of Appeal declared the regulation constitutionally invalid on the grounds that it failed to provide a legal supply of marijuana for persons authorized to possess it (Hitzig et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen). It was therefore amended by the Regulations Amending the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, SOR/2003-387 (in force December 3, 2003).
The Marihuana Exemption (Food and Drugs Act) Regulations SOR/2013-120 exempts marijuana produced under contract with Her Majesty in Right of Canada from the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-27.
SOR/2013-120 came into force, with some exceptions, on June 7, 2013. SOR/2013-120 s.6 repealed The Marihuana Exemption (Food and Drugs Act) Regulations, SOR/2003-261 (which had been in force as of July 8, 2003)
For more information on these regulations, see the following Regulatory Impact Statements in the Canada Gazette Part II (available at many courthouse library locations):
- Volume 135, no. 14, p. 1350-1373.
- Volume 137, no. 15, p. 2020-2027.
- Volume 137, no. 26, p. 2984-2994.
- Volume 147, no. 13, p. 1720-1760.
Health Canada offers information such as statistics, access, and contact details, under Medical Use of Marihuana.