The Canadian authorities has spent greater than $150 million within the final fiscal 12 months reimbursing veterans for medical hashish prices, the Canadian Press reviews. The determine is greater than double the quantity spent three years in the past.
Veterans Affairs Canada mentioned the federal government is predicted to spend about $200 million this 12 months as demand by veterans for medical hashish is on the rise. This system began in 2008 and, initially, the pool of veterans getting medical hashish reimbursement was extraordinarily restricted and required the approval of medical specialists, the report says. Well being Canada relaxed the foundations in 2014, increasing the variety of circumstances and eradicating limits on how a lot hashish could possibly be approved.
In 2014, Veterans Affairs was reimbursing 112 ex-service members for his or her medical hashish, at a value of $409,000. However the next 12 months, that complete elevated to greater than 600, at a complete value of greater than $1.7 million.
In 2021-2022, greater than 18,000 ex-military members had been reimbursed a complete of $153 million, in accordance with Veterans Affairs figures outlined by the Press.
In 2016, the federal government restricted medical hashish claims to a few grams per day – 10 grams with a medical authorization – at $8.50 per gram however that transfer has not reigned in prices, the report says.
Comparatively, the variety of non-military medical hashish sufferers in Canada has fallen from 345,000 in October 2018 – across the time hashish was legalized nationally – to 257,000 in December 2021, in accordance with Well being Canada information.
In Canada, medical hashish is roofed by medical insurance.
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