Leger Poll: Canadians Support Medical Cannabis, Believe Insurers Should Cover the Cost

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 14, 2015) - According to the results of a national public opinion poll released today, a significant majority of Canadians support regulated access to medical cannabis with physician support (86%) and three-quarters agree that health insurance companies should cover the costs of medical cannabis for those in legitimate need. The survey was conducted by Leger on behalf of Tilray, one of Canada's largest and most reputable Licensed Producers of medical cannabis.

In addition the survey also found that:

• Most Canadians are aware that medical cannabis is legal in Canada (76%)
  
  
• Most also know that physicians and certain nurse practitioners are the only healthcare professionals who can legally authorize use of medical cannabis in Canada (73%)
  
  
• A majority of Canadians believe medical cannabis is a good option for those living with chronic pain (73%), and
  
  
• 70% believe medical cannabis can be a safer alternative to opioid drugs
  
  

"Around the world, medical cannabis is still a relatively misunderstood, though promising, therapy," says Greg Engel, Tilray's CEO. "It is encouraging that Canadians are clearly paying attention to medical cannabis as a legitimate treatment option here at home."

In 2013, the Government of Canada introduced new regulations relating to how Canadians can obtain cannabis (commonly known as marijuana) for medical need. The Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR), which came into full force in 2014, enables Health Canada to approve companies (known as Licensed Producers or LPs) to legally grow and sell medical cannabis to patients who have received a medical document from a healthcare practitioner.

While the survey shows that Canadians strongly support medical cannabis as a therapeutic option, only 42% of Canadians believe that their family physician would prescribe them medical cannabis if they had a chronic medical condition that caused them unresolved pain. Respondents also expressed confusion about how to legally purchase medical cannabis, with just under one-third mistakenly believing that storefront shops, also known as dispensaries, are a legal way to purchase medical cannabis in Canada (31%).

"There is a clear need for greater education so that physicians can gain knowledge and clinical experience with medical cannabis in their practice and develop confidence in recommending it for their patients," says Engel. "The good news is that the evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis is rapidly growing, and is finally catching up to the overwhelming public support for this treatment option."

About the Survey

An online survey of 1555 Canadians was conducted between Monday September 14th and Thursday September 17th 2015 using Leger's online panel. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About Tilray

Tilray is a medical cannabis company dedicated to offering quality and consistency for patients who utilize, and healthcare professionals who authorize, medical cannabis.