The #CoverCannabis Project

Today, I’m excited to announce the launch of The #CoverCannabis Project.

Through this series of conversations with real patients and their families, my goal is to shine a light on the REAL PEOPLE who are benefitting from cannabinoid therapy and raise awareness of the public health and economic benefit of providing coverage amongst Government, private insurance companies, employers, unions and other stakeholders. 

Every day, I see the life-changing effects that cannabinoid-based medicine can have on improving people’s quality of life. Sadly, every day, I also have patients who are forced to stop a treatment that is working due to the cost barrier. In many cases, this means a return to the opioid therapy, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics that medical cannabis replaced.

Quite simply, no one should have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for their medicine. 

It shows a pervasive lack of understanding and bias amongst policymakers--and is frankly discriminatory--that people living with cancer, dementia, refractory epilepsy, or some other serious condition, have to pay out-of-pocket for their PRESCRIBED cannabinoid-based medicines. Not only that, but unlike any other prescription medication, they are taxed in the same way as someone picking up a high THC joint for weekend recreational use. This is not right, and no one should be okay with this.  

I’m so grateful to the many patients, families and care providers who have generously agreed to share their stories so that we can raise awareness of this important cause. This will be one of my top priorities for 2021. If you’d like to show your support, I invite you to share your own story on social media using the hashtag #CoverCannabis or write to your local MP and MPP to show this is an issue that’s important to you. We’d also appreciate it if you could re-share our #CoverCannabis posts on social to help spread the word. Together, we can do hard things. 

Wishing you good health,

Blake Pearson, M.D.

The Observer - Sarnia Doctor Wants Health Insurance Coverage for Medical Cannabis Use

Although we have made huge gains in improving patient access to medical cannabis in Canada, for many patients, one of the main barriers continues to be cost. 

For many of my patients, starting cannabinoid therapy has been life-changing and has allowed them to reduce or eliminate other medications that weren’t providing benefit or that were causing intolerable side-effects. 

Unfortunately, despite the success they are having on cannabinoid therapy, some individuals are ultimately forced to make the tough decision to go back on their previous medications (opioids, anti-psychotics, antidepressants, etc.) since they are covered by insurance. In Canada, with one of the world’s most admired health systems, that’s a VERY tough pill to swallow. 

At the very least, treatment for the most vulnerable individuals - like seniors with dementia and children with treatment resistant epilepsy - must be covered.

Huge thanks to Tyler Kula from The Observer for helping me raise awareness of this important issue. 

Read the full article here.

Reflections on Australia Visit: Canada and Australia Have More in Common Than You May Think

Did you know that Canada is the largest per capita consumer of prescription opioids? We are closely followed by the USA, which is no big surprise, but the countries rounding out the top 5 may be surprising: Denmark, Australia and Switzerland.

Unfortunately, we have a lot more in common with our Australian compatriots than having the Queen on our money: they too are facing an opioid crisis with opioid-related deaths up 114% since 2006.

Encouragingly, the Australian Government appears to be taking steps to explore reasonable opioid-alternatives and recently announced a $3 million research grant to investigate the use of cannabinoids to help cancer patients. Building on this momentum, I was excited to be invited to Australia for two weeks, where I met with pain, cancer, addiction and geriatric specialists, as well as primary care physicians, pharmacists and nurses in Sydney and Melbourne. Together we shared learnings and best practice and I provided in-depth training in cannabinoid-based medicine to help increase understanding amongst the Australian medical community.

Sharing my experiences with other practitioners, so that more patients can benefit, is one of the best parts of my job. I’m proud to be playing a small role in the evolution of medical cannabis in another part of the world and can’t wait to get back there and see how everyone’s making out.