Prescriptions for medicinal marijuana are becoming more common,
particularly for chronic pain patients. There is rising concern
among physicians regarding opioid addiction, and some are now
prescribing medicinal marijuana as an alternative pain treatment.
Though there is no consensus among medical experts on the issue of
the efficacy of cannabis as a pain treatment, there is a judicial
trend that recognizes that some patients with chronic pain obtain
significant benefit from the use of medical cannabis.
The cost of medicinal marijuana can be significant compared to
the alternative opioid pain medications. Health Canada has
stipulated a maximum daily dosage of 5 grams/day. The cost
per gram charged by licensed growers varies by manufacturer,
strain, and blend - but the average cost is in the range of
$8.40. This represents a cost of about $1,260 per month,
compared to the cost of opioids such as hydromorphone, which costs
approximately $120-$140 per month. For a
