ARCHIVED - Legal Sources of Starting Materials - Information Bulletin

New information on this topic will be available soon. In the meantime, please visit www.canada.ca/cannabis for current information and rules relating to cannabis in Canada.

To Licensed Producers of Marijuana for Medical Purposes

The purpose of this information bulletin is to identify the two ways under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) that licensed producers can obtain starting materials for the production of marijuana for medical purposes. These are:

  1. Importation from a legal foreign source of marijuana seeds or marijuana plants; and
  2. Marijuana plants and/or seeds obtained from a producer who holds a licence under the MMPR.

Starting Materials

As noted above, starting materials include marijuana seeds or marijuana plants.

Importation of Marijuana

Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961. As such, the MMPR were created in compliance with the aims of the convention. This includes controls regarding the importation of marijuana by licensed producers (i.e., marijuana seeds, marijuana plants and dried marijuana).

Licensed producers can only import marijuana with a permit issued by Health Canada as per  section 75 of the MMPR. Applications will be provided upon request. Licensed producers are required to retain records regarding this transaction in accordance with section 135 of the MMPR.

For more information on importation, please see the Import and Export of Marijuana by Licensed Producers information bulletin.

Marijuana from Another Licensed Producer

Licensed producers may also obtain starting material from another licensed producer. The licensed producer selling the starting material must be in receipt of a written order from the licensed producer wishing to purchase the starting material in accordance with section 131 of the MMPR. Licensed producers are required to retain records of such transactions in accordance with  Part 6 of the MMPR.

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