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Medical cannabis is already subject to sales tax, which, if treated like other prescribed medication, it wouldn’t be. Equally problematic is the decision to exclude low-THC and CBD (the chemicals in cannabis) products from the excise tax. It seems to suggest there’s something more medically legitimate about the use of low THC or CBD products.

These assumptions are disconnected from the experiences of many patients, even children, who use products with a range of THC or CBD profiles. Being a medical cannabis patient, young or old, means trying a variety of products – expensive products – out of pocket.

The government has attempted to frame the low THC exemption as saving (some) patients money, but the reality is they’re simply not applying further excise taxes on a product that should not be taxed at all to begin with.

Also consider the burden of the process of finding what works: what do patients do when they’ve purchased an oil or strain of cannabis which doesn’t work for them?

The short answer is nothing (despite costing approximately $60 to $90 for a bottle of oil, and many producers have a five-gram minimum for purchases), because most producers do not offer a mechanism for returning used products. In an already complex and imperfect system, why must we burden sick patients and their families further with an additional tax?

The reality, of course, is wrapped up in ideas of stigma and distrust of cannabis’ potential as a medicine, likely tied to its “recreational” use. Exempting particular products punishes patients for using what works for them – despite that at face value, cannabis comes with a relatively low risk profile, and it reportedly helps many patients achieve a better quality of life. We should support responsible access to medical cannabis, rather than exacerbate issues around access, affordability and coverage.