Advertisement

News

Sun Life covers Waterloo U student’s medpot costs

The Cons medpot privatization plan is unaffordable to an overwhelming majority of chronically-ill Canadians, but University of Waterloo student Jonathan Zaids persistence has paid off.

His student insurance plan, provided by Sun Life Canada, is covering his cannabis costs.

I cant afford medical marijuana – I am a student! Its very expensive, about $18 to $25 a day, says the third-year student and founder of Canadians for Fair Access To Medical Marijuana (CFAMM).

Zaid began a personal assignment to determine how he could be reimbursed for his medical marijuana purchases because without cannabis he couldnt attend UW.

Zaid has a 24/7 headache from a neurological condition known as New Daily Persistent Headache, that began when he was 14 years-old. Hes tried a slew of pharma – 48 different prescription medications – but only cannabis has helped ease his pain.

I dropped out of high school, he says. My quality of life was low and my doctor was dismissive about medical marijuana because I was young. I gave up on medical cannabis and then my mom gave me a joint on my 18th birthday because she couldnt stand to see me in pain. There was hope.

Unfortunately, like many Canadians, Zaid couldnt access weed under the old medical marijuana program and resorted to recreational dealers, which doesnt work. One week your dealer has something that provides fantastic relief and the next their weed is different and it doesnt relieve your symptoms at all.

Purchasing recreationally to use medically also creates strong feelings of stigma in many people.

Despite many opting for cannabis instead of opiates, medical marijuana patients are labeled potheads.

Zaid says this is something many young people, even those with legal protection to smoke weed, are very aware and leery of. For many, plenty of personal relief happens from this stigmatization when they receive a legal medpot prescription.

Zaid became hopeful he could access Health Canadas new program because the feds were no longer involved in the application process.

He did become successful. By finding – like many Canadians – a sympathetic doctor who agreed to fill out the simple document for a fee.

But the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has just advised doctors against this practice. The College considers the medical document authorizing patient access to dried marijuana to be equivalent to a prescription.

Before CPSO came to that conclusion, Zaid argued before the University of Waterloos Health and Dental Committee his document constituted a prescription and ought to be covered by his student insurance provider.

Theres an exception process for medications not covered and Zaid prepared to present his case, but the committee decided against him before he could make his case.

Unbeknownst to the committee, Zaid uses a strain of cannabis during the day that removes the stoney side effects. He wanted to explain this and show them the paperwork of all the prescriptions he tried and that had failed to help him. Licensed medpot producer Bedrocan provided support and research.

Zaid was eventually permitted to present his case and convinced the committee made up of a physician, representatives of the Federation of Students, the Graduate Student Association and the universitys Health Services.

The purpose of our student Health and Dental Plan is to support the academic success and wellbeing of our student members, says Jacqueline Martinz, communications coordinator for Waterloos Federation of Students. Like all student initiatives, the Plan must balance cost and coverage to create a sustainable service for students.

And so, the University of Waterloo Federation of Students insurance program, provided by Sun Life Canada, has become possibly the first to cover cannabis.

Its replacing expensive medication and saving them money, Zaid says. Sun Life even covered the cost of a Volcano Medic Vaporizer, because its an approved medical device.

Zaid is assisting three other students from University of Toronto, Queens and Waterloo to have their medpot covered too.

Its fairly common for universities to have these committees. He hopes to connect with more patients through CFAMM.

Were going to put it to the test, he says.

news@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Recently Posted