Back to Blog

What Caregivers Need to Know About Medical Cannabis

Caregivers are the front line in helping prescribed patients obtain and use medical cannabis as part of their treatment plan. And although medical cannabis is currently available in Canada for medicinal purposes, that doesn’t mean patients and caregivers automatically have access to it.

Furthermore, the patients with the most severe symptoms — the infirm, the immobile, and the dying— may have the most difficulty incorporating medical cannabis into their treatment. This is where their caregivers come in.

When is the right time for a patient to use medical cannabis?

The answer to this question depends solely on the patient and their readiness. If there are any questions about whether it is appropriate for the patient’s current condition, the patient and their caregivers should talk to the patient’s doctors.

How do patients and caregivers obtain medical cannabis?

The person who wishes to have medical cannabis will have to qualify as a patient. Generally, they need to be diagnosed and provided a medical cannabis treatment plan from qualified doctors and nurses via a consultation. The Caregivers can assist the patient in obtaining the consultation with the patient’s consent.

The consultation can be done face-to-face or virtually, depending on the clinics. During consultation, a healthcare practitioner will provide a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s need, and the medical document will then be sent to a Licensed Provider such as Starseed.

What comes after receiving medical documents?

The caregiver may purchase medical cannabis from a Licensed Provider after the medical document has been submitted to the LP. Cannabis purchased from other retail sources may not be considered medical cannabis.

From there, the caregiver needs to register an account at a LP’s website to move forward with the purchasing process. With Starseed, if you are a caregiver, an A1 form is required to be completed during the registration process following the steps below.

1. Select the option “On Behalf of someone else” if you are registering as a caregiver.


2. The Caregiver will then be asked for their personal information and signature

3. You then will be asked if there are any further caregivers, and if not, click on “No” and proceed with the registration process. (A patient can have up to 3 care givers at one time).

After this process is completed, the caregiver will be able to order products on behalf of the patient by either calling in to the call centre or placing the order online. The medical cannabis products will then be shipped directly to the appointed address.

If you have any questions about the registration process or Starseed products and services, please don’t hesitate to contact our Client Care Team at 1-844-756-7333 or info@starseed.com during our hours of operation. We’re here to help!


Previous Article
A Brief Overview on Canada’s Opioid Overdose Crisis
In Canada, the ongoing public health crisis of opioid overdose and deaths is worsening. Between January 2016 and June 2021, 24,626 persons died in Canada because of opioid overdoses, with latest figures indicating a frightening increase of 19 deaths per day. With a 66 % increase in death year over year, the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada has exacerbated the opioid problem, and we are still learning about the causes and risks that contribute to these terrible overdoses, which involve both prescribed and non-prescribed opioid use. Why is there an increase in opioid-related harms? The following reasons may have led to the rise in opioid-related harms: • Social isolation and pandemic-related stress1 • Erratic unregulated drug supply due to border and travel restrictions1 • Restricted accessibility of healthcare services1 The pandemic has affected virtually all services and therapies accessible to people suffering from chronic pain, addiction, and mental illness. Anxiety alone is a huge cause for drug use, and what could be more stressful than the current pandemic? People who formerly used drugs with a friend are now doing so alone, with no one to contact 911 or administer naloxone. COVID-19 overburdened emergency rooms and hospitals, and they may not have had the time or resources to address addiction. Opioids are undeniably effective in the treatment of certain types of pain, such as post-operative, palliative, and cancer pain. However, the fact that around 10% of those who are prescribed opioids go on to develop an opioid use disorder (OUD) is cause for concern2. Furthermore, problematic opioid usage isn't just an individual issue; it's also a 'proximity' issue for friends, family, and communities. Who are most likely affected by the opioid crisis? The opioid issue affects some communities and populations disproportionately, such as males aged 20 to 49 who work in the construction industry3. Chronic pain is a major issue in the trades and construction industry, with 32% of workers over-indexing for chronic back pain alone. Construction workers are estimated to account for 30% of all opioid-related deaths. Additionally, workers with a substance use disorder (SUD) miss an average of 14.8 days per year, while workers with OUD miss an average of 29 days per year4. This points to a rise in the number of construction workers seeking treatment for chronic pain and OUD. Chronic pain, however, is rarely isolated; it is frequently linked with sleep disturbances and emotional distress, forming the well-known "Pain Triad." Opioids are currently the most used drug to treat the Pain Triad. Because no single medication can target all three arms of the pain triad, prescribers frequently turn to multiple high-risk drugs, including opioids, that together increase the abuse potential and worsen symptoms. As a result, there has been a lot of interest in potential alternatives. The opioid overdose crisis is worsening during the COVID-19 pandemic with many communities across Canada reporting record numbers of opioid-related deaths, emergency calls and hospitalizations. We can all play a role in supporting those who use substances. If you or someone you care about is in need of assistance – Get help now. References: [1] Special Advisory on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses.  Opioid and Stimulant-Related Harms in Canada. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; Sept 2021. [2] Angus Reid Institute. (2021). Canada’s other epidemic: as overdose deaths escalate, majority favour decriminalization of drugs. Retrieved from https://angusreid.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021.02.24_Opioid_Dependence.pdf [3] Gomes, T. et al. Changing Circumstances Surrounding Opioid-Related Deaths in Ontario During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ontario Drug Policy Research Network / The office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario / Ontario Forensic Pathology Service / Public Health Ontario. May 2021. [4] Xiuwen, D., Wang, X., Fujimoto, A., & Dobbin, R. (2013). Chronic back pain among older construction workers in the United States: a longitudinal study. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 18(2), 99-109.
Next Article
Understanding Chronic Insomnia and its Cause and Effects
Chronic insomnia is a long-term pattern of difficult initiating or maintaining sleep. Sleep disorders, like insomnia, are problems with the quality, timing, and amount of sleep, which result in daytime distress and impairment in functioning.1 Our sleep-wake cycle is controlled by the body’s internal clock known as circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. It can influence important functions in our body, such as hormone release, digestion, body temperature, and sleep cycle. Usually, our circadian rhythm closely follows the daily pattern of day and night. However, many people have sleep schedules that cause misalignment of their circadian rhythm. Shift work is one example of a situation in which individuals are unable to get the sleep they need. Travel is also a common cause of disturbed sleep. In some people, circadian rhythms can be shifted forward or backward without a clear cause, resulting in persistent difficulties in sleep timing and overall sleep quality. Poor sleep can also trigger or worsen other health conditions, creating a complex chain of cause-and-effect of insomnia. Sleep quality can be hampered by a demanding work schedule and high level of stress, but the contrary is also true. It's difficult to perform well when you're nodding off at your desk, fatigued, have poor energy, and lack creativity. Many medical conditions, such as PTSD, pain, and sleep apnea, have the potential to disrupt sleep. Can medical cannabis help with sleep? A recent high-quality human clinical trial demonstrated that giving cannabis, specifically THC 10mg-20mg in oil form, one hour before bed improved sleep quality and insomnia significantly. The research implies that mixing THC with CBD can help people who are new to THC or who are sensitive to it avoid or lessen the unpleasant psychoactive effects of THC.2 References: [1] Qaseem, A., Kansagara, D., Forciea, M., Cooke, M., Denber, T.D., et al. (2016). Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 165(2). 125-133. [2] Walsh, J.H., Maddison, K.J., Rankin, T., Murray, K., McArdle, N., et al. (2021). Treating insomnia symptoms with medicinal cannabis: a randomized, crossover trial of the efficacy of cannabinoid medicine compared with placebo. Sleep Research Study, 44(11), 1-8.

Loading