Module 1: Professional Accountability and Prescribing

Lesson 1

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (cont’d)

The New Classes of Practitioners Regulations (NCPR) (2012), the Narcotic Control Regulations, Part G of the Food and Drug Regulations and the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations  are all regulations under the CDSA, administered by the Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada.  An additional regulation, the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) was enacted in August 2016 to replace the Marihuana [sic] for Medical Purposes Regulations (2013), both of which regulate the production, distribution and use of medical marijuana in Canada. NPs have not been granted the authority to prescribe medical marijuana, therefore these regulations will not be examined at this time.

It is important to note that there are marijuana preparations which fall under the CDSA and NCPR that NPs in some jurisdictions are authorized to administer. This will be addressed in the discussion about provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.