11. How do you get medicinal cannabis?

A patient can only get access to medicinal cannabis as a prescription by a medical practitioner.

That prescription can only be filled by a pharmacist or authorised personnel in a pharmacy or therapeutic facility.

A pharmacist or authorised personnel in a pharmacy shall only dispense or supply medicinal cannabis on the submission by a patient or where applicable, a caregiver, of a prescription and a valid form of identification.

Upon dispensing medicinal cannabis to a patient (or, where applicable, a caregiver), a pharmacist or authorised personnel shall ensure that the label given in respect of the prescription has the information required by Pharmacy (Compounding and Dispensing of Drugs and Poisons) Regulations, 1986.

A pharmacist shall enter the information in a register kept by him/her and established for that purpose, in the prescribed manner.

A person who consumes medicinal cannabis without being authorised to use medicinal cannabis by a prescription or recommendation from a medical practitioner is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $100 000 or to imprisonment for a term of 10 years or to both.

12. How is medicinal cannabis administered?

Medical cannabis can be administered by a variety of formulations which may include vapours, tinctures, oromucosal sprays, oral forms, transdermal patches, ointments and suppositories.

13. Will there be rigorous testing done to medicinal cannabis?

The BMCLA in conjunction with accredited testing laboratories will facilitate the testing of medicinal cannabis to ensure the products meet safety and efficacy requirements.

14. Will there be clear guidelines for prescribing medicinal cannabis for the use of patients or will doctors be left to experiment?

The BMCLA and its Board, are responsible for regulating the medicinal cannabis industry, through the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines, as well as establishing the code of practice for practitioners in the industry. We work closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness via its regulatory bodies such as the Barbados Drug Service to ensure safe and evidence-based treatment options for patients. Currently, there are five legally-approved medicinal cannabis drugs, placed on the National Drug Formulary. Patients can access these drugs under the provisions of Section 12 of the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act Cap 131.

15. Are there dose limitations?

In circumstances where a prescription by a medical practitioner requires repeated usage over a period of 3 months, a pharmacy or therapeutic facility shall not dispense to that patient more than 30-day supply of individual does at a time.