Conducting Research & Development with Marihuana for Medical Purposes

The new regulations are expected to come into force in spring 2013. Interested parties planning on applying to become licensed producers can work with Health Canada now to apply for an authorization to conduct certain research and development (R&D) activities with marihuana such as testing marihuana plant materials and growing conditions on-site.  Marihuana used for such R&D activities must be obtained from a legal source.

Authorization to conduct research and development is not a guarantee that you will receive a producer's licence under the proposed Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. You would still be required to apply for a producer's licence once the regulations are promulgated, and you would still have to demonstrate compliance with all of the regulatory requirements.

Apply to Start R&D

First, you will need to determine if your project includes or requires production of marihuana:

• If yes, you could apply for a licence issued under section 9 or section 67 of the Narcotic Control Regulations; and/or
• an exemption issued under section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• If it doesn't include production and you intend to purchase the marihuana from a licensed source, you could apply for a licence issued under section 9 of the Narcotic Control Regulations or an exemption under section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

See  Notice for further details on applying for a research and development licence.  If you have further questions regarding these processes, or regarding the availability of a legal supply of seeds or marihuana for R&D activities, please email OCS-BSC@hc-sc.gc.ca.

It should be noted that if interested parties wish to conduct activities such as producing marihuana for the purposes of sale before the new proposed MMPR are in force, those parties must comply with the applicable requirements of the  Food and Drugs Act and the  Food and Drug Regulations. For clinical trials (studies in humans) please contact the Therapeutic Products Directorate.