Medical Cannabis FAQs

The majority of our patients suffer from pain, anxiety, and/or sleep issues, and traditional medications and therapies have been ineffective for them. If you are experiencing a condition or symptoms that are impacting your quality of life, whether you are cannabis naïve or have been self-medicating for many years, please contact us to learn more about how medical cannabis may help you.

Please call Apollo toll free at (877) 560-9195 to book an appointment with us or email booking@apolloresearch.ca, or click the ‘Book Appointment‘ button to fill out a patient intake form.

Only patients who have booked an appointment will be seen by Apollo doctors. Occasionally we have a last-minute cancellations and will be able to see walk-ins, but it is always advised to call ahead to ensure you are prepared for your first appointment with us.

Currently medical cannabis is not covered by OHIP, as it does not have a DIN number. Some insurance companies are covering medical cannabis or patients can use their Health/Healthcare Spending Accounts (HSA / HCSA) to cover the costs. Check with your insurance provider to learn more. Medical cannabis for Canadian Veterans and retired RCMP Officers is typically covered by Blue Cross insurance. Medical cannabis is also tax-deductible as a medical expense, so make sure you save your receipts and claim your medication!

At Apollo, we want to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible through the entire process of obtaining your medical cannabis prescription. Our team of educators and physicians are here to support you in: Albanian, American Sign Language (ASL), English, Farsi, French, Mauritian & Seychelles Creole, Polish, Swahili, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Amharic, Punjabi, Lingala, and Tagalog.

Please contact us at least 48 hours before your appointment so we can reschedule you and help another patient who is urgently waiting.

If you already have a medical cannabis prescription, but would like to be seen by an Apollo physician, please give us a call at 1-877-560-9195 and we will be able to assist you!

Once your appointment is booked, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete your video or phone appointment. There will also be a link to complete your medical assessment form, which we ask that you complete this at least 48 hours before your appointment. If you prefer to complete your medical assessment by phone, just give us a call. If you don't receive an email, please call us so we can help! 1-877-560-9195 booking@Apolloresearch.ca

Yes, our team of healthcare practitioners have been trained to help patients of all ages. If you're the legal guardian or power of attorney we can help you set up an appointment for the child's needs with one of our pediatricians. Please speak with our booking team at 1-877-560-9195 or email booking@apolloresearch.ca.

We're open for appointment bookings, patient support, and virtual appointments 7 days a week: Monday - Friday: 8:00am-7:00pm Saturday: 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday: 10:00am-5:00pm

Our specialized healthcare team works alongside the patient, caretakers, existing physicians, and the home to ensure safety and transparency for all parties. With consent, we connect with the caretaker(s) and patient during a phone or video appointment, where you get a chance to speak with the physician and followed by a personalized education session. We work with the patient, caretaker(s), and LTC team on how to use, order, and dose the medical cannabis. Consult notes can also be provided to the patients' physician. 

We understand that patients may have some concerns after being prescribed Medical Cannabis. We will provide you with an educational session on your initial visit, and will work to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We will register you with a Health Canada approved licensed producer, and can even help you place your first order for medical cannabis.

You DO NOT need a referral to be seen at Apollo. If your physician is not comfortable with medical cannabis, please contact us – we are here to help and are committed to being as accessible as possible for patients. Apollo is currently accepting patients without referrals.

Your medication will be shipped to you directly from a licensed producer. It can be ordered online, or over the phone, and is mailed right to your front door by Canada Post or Purolator.

The cost of medical cannabis varies based on consumption levels, strains, and products. We understand that medical cannabis may not be covered for you, so we will work with you to find products that address your healthcare and budgetary needs, including assisting you with applying for compassionate pricing programs, where applicable.

Once you are seen by Apollo, it can typically take anywhere from 1-5 days to receive your medication from the licensed producer. If you need your first order of medical cannabis sooner, inquire with your patient educator about registering with a licensed producer who has an instant registration process and same-day shipping so we can help you place your first order in clinic to be received within 24 hours.

Yes, we do require a valid health card in order to book an appointment. If you don't currently have one, give us a call to see how we can help.

Our team of healthcare practitioners wants to ensure you're supported with your medical cannabis care and will schedule your follow up based on your treatment plan. This can range from one month up to one year and is patient specific. If you require extra support and guidance along the way, just give us a call!

Some Licensed Producers (where you order your medication from directly) offer compassion pricing for patients that meet age, income, government assistant programs or other criteria. Ask your educator if compassionate pricing is applicable to you.

If you are a patient of Apollo, we can absolutley help you. Give us a call toll-free 1-877-560-9195 or email support@apolloresearch.ca for help!

If you accidentally miss your appointment, please give us a call as soon as possible at 1-877-560-9195 so we can help reschedule it for you or walk you through the steps to login!

Yes! Veterans are even covered for vaporizers and edibles. If you or someone you know is a veteran and needs support, please contact our veteran team at veterans@apolloresearch.ca or call 1-877-560-9195.

It is important to note that medical cannabis - like any medication - affects different people in different ways.  To minimize potential side effects it is important to follow the medical expertise of qualified physicians and nurses who will ensure that your personalized treatment plan serves your unique medical needs while closely monitoring your sensitivity to the medicine. These are the most common potential side effects: (i) dizziness, drowsiness, feeling faint or lightheaded, fatigue, headache; (ii) impaired memory and disturbances in attention, concentration and ability to think and make decisions; (iii) disorientation, confusion, feeling “drunk”, feeling abnormal or having abnormal thoughts, feeling “too high”, feelings of unreality, feeling an extreme slowing of time; (iv) suspiciousness, nervousness, episodes of anxiety resembling a panic attack, paranoia (loss of contact with reality), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that do not exist); (v) impairments in motor skills and perception, altered bodily perceptions, loss of full control of bodily movements, falls; (vi) dry mouth, throat irritation, coughing; (vii) nausea, vomiting; and (viii) fast heartbeat. Please note there may be side effects that are not yet known. You should always consult a physician if you experience any of these side-effects or experience anything unexpected.

The compounds in medical cannabis act on receptors in our body found in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is partially responsible for maintaining homeostasis, and regulating different processes in the body, such as: mood, pain, hunger and many others.

You do not need to ‘get high’ to benefit from medical cannabis. Medical cannabis contains two main compounds – CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the compound that creates that high or euphoria effect and CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning there is no ‘high’ obtained from it. Both compounds are medically beneficial and used often in combination with each other for best effect. With that said, many patients choose to use strains that are very low in the compound THC, and rich in the compound CBD during the day, in order to manage their symptoms, without feeling ‘high’. Based on your needs, we will help you create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your concerns and treatment goals to ensure maximum benefit.

No. The only method of ordering medical cannabis is directly through the licensed producer over the phone or online.  Once the order has been made, the licensed producer will deliver the cannabis directly to your home using Canada Post or Purolator. No pharmacy is legally authorized to sell or provide medical cannabis from their storefront.

Medical cannabis can be consumed in edible oil form, gel capsules, sprays, and dried cannabis (which is recommended to be vaporized). Apollo will help you choose methods of administration/products best for your needs.

Your physician will decide the total amount of medical cannabis you should use each day (for example, 1 gram per day). We will provide you with a Daily Medication Log in the Patient Starter Guide, which we strongly recommend you use. It is aimed at helping you keep track of your dosing schedule. Writing down how much you vaporize and at what time in the day will provide you with a written record of what works and what doesn’t. It is important to keep in mind that every patient will react slightly different and have different dosing schedules so it is up to you to find a balance that will give you the greatest pain relief.

Although medical cannabis interaction rate is relatively low, Apollo’s Healthcare Practitioners will always assess your medical history and medications before prescribing medical cannabis. As patient's safety is our priority.

Quite possibly, but not necessarily the exact same dose or strain. As every strain of cannabis is unique just like every individual is unique. Often patients will need a slightly different dose or strain then another individual with the same condition.

It depends on the format of the medicine. Oils and softgels have a similar shelf life to cooking oils and can last from 6 months to two years when kept in a cool and dark place. One way to check if your oil is by smelling to see if it smells "off." Cannabis flower starts to degrade after about a year if not stored correctly before losing its smell and potency. 

Once your prescription and registration forms are faxed to the licensed producer from Apollo, the licensed producer will contact you by phone within 2 days of receiving your prescription, allowing you to place your order for medical cannabis. If the licensed producer does not call you within 2 days you should notify Apollo or your physician. You will be required to pay for your medical cannabis using a credit card, VISA debit, or pre-paid card over the phone. The licensed producers are not permitted to accept payment by any other method (ie. cash, cheque, money order). Once the payment has been processed, the licensed producer will let you know the exact day the product will be shipped. The medication will be shipped to your door and will be delivered in a discreet package for your privacy. You must be home to sign for the package, if you are not home, you will be left a notice to inform you where you can pick up the package in-person (usually the nearest post office).

This depends on the strain of cannabis and dosage you are prescribed. Medical cannabis is generally less expensive than recreational cannabis and some licensed producers also absorb the excise tax to further help patients afford their medicine.  Apollo will help you choose products that fit your financial budget.

No. Medical cannabis is ordered on an as needed basis, that meaning you do not have to order your full prescription.

Some insurance policies may cover medicinal cannabis. We recommend checking with your individual provider. Should they cover this medicine, Apollo can assist with any administrative paperwork that is needed.

Medical cannabis patients have 3 main options for administering their medicine:

1. Dried Cannabis, which should be vaporized and inhaled
2. Edible oils, which are placed under the tongue then swallowed
3. Oil Capsules, which are swallowed like a regular pill

Each method can affect the body differently and an Apollo patient educator will work with you to choose a method, or combination of methods best for you and your condition.

Multiple temperature settings: Regardless of which vaporizer you purchase, it should have multiple temperature settings. The medicinal properties in the cannabis are activated through the process of heating and so you must have control over the temperature setting. The key is to heat the cannabis as much as possible without burning. Your vaporizer should have temperature settings for 200°C or higher. Portability/Discreetness: You may be administering the medical cannabis multiple times throughout the day (on average 3 times a day) in order to achieve continuous pain relief. Therefore, at times when you are out in public and need to vaporize, it may be easier to medicate if the device is easy to carry, light, and discreet.

Apollo sells a variety of great quality vaporizers including two units authorized by Health Canada as a medical device. Apollo’s educators can help you choose a vaporizer best suits your needs and budget. If you would like to inquire about purchasing a vaporizer, please send us an email to support@apolloresearch.ca or call 1-877-560-9195.

Medical cannabis should be stored in the containers they come in. Flower/Buds should be kept in a dry, airtight packaging and oils kept in a cool dark place.

After your appointment with an educator, you will learn how to dose properly for your condition and symptoms. As it is a personalized medication, each person's dosing strategy is customized to them, and dependant on the product and strain they are using. If you need assistance with your dosing, we are happy to help answer any questions for you.

Yes, of course! Apollo Clinics are still running as normal, and your medication is still mailed to your residence. Currently, all appointments are done virtually for everyone's safety.

We are fully operational and offering video & phone appointments across Canada, providing you with new & follow up appointments, education, and support 7 days a week.

Yes, you can have an appointment from the comfort of your own home by phone or video. We also recommend you follow Health Canada guidelines and obtain medical advice from your family doctor.

We have taken precautions to ensure safety for our patients and staff by offering all of our appointments to be strictly virtual, and completed from your own home via webcam or phone.

Right now there is not enough research or evidence to suggest anything concrete on the topic, although research is currently underway worldwide.

There is no conclusive evidence to validate that claim at this time.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is believed to help regulate a number of our functions, including mood, sleep and pain, but there is more research needed. We are all born with an ECS, which is made of endocannabinoids that bind to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. Endocannabinoids are molecules that are made by your body and are similar to cannabinoids, a compound made from cannabis.

Please contact Apollo Applied Research directly at research@apolloresearch.ca to inquire about participating in our research studies.

Medical cannabis is not a one size fits all treatment. It requires working with a qualified healthcare practitioner and their team to ensure you have the most success and relief possible. This kind of treatment is not available at recreational retail stores. If you are a medical cannabis patient, it is always recommended to have the ongoing advice, support and monitoring of a cannabis doctor and clinic. For more information on why to maintain your medical cannabis prescription, post-legalization, please read our blog here.

The answer is No.

The receipt you receive from a licensed producer that you purchased from is your proof of prescription.

Think of Licensed Producers (LP) as the pharmacy - where any purchase of medicine comes from them, and not Apollo (the doctors office). Your LP keeps a record of your purchases under your account which can be obtained on their website by signing into your patient account or by requesting it by calling or emailing the LP if you can't download your receipts. 

No. Medical cannabis can only be mailed directly to a home/office of your choosing. If you do not have a safe place to mail your medicine, Apollo can accept the package on your behalf. Please inquire with us directly.

Medical cannabis patients are free to consume their medicine as needed, even in public, provided you are abiding by local smoke-free laws. This means that if you need to vaporize your medicine while out and about, you are free to do so. Recreational consumers will be confined to use recreational cannabis in private spaces, such as one’s home. Read more about medical versus recreational cannabis here in our blog.

As cannabis is legal across Canada, you are allowed to possess 30x your daily prescription limit or up to a maximum of 150 grams, whichever is less. You are not allowed to bring any cannabis or medical cannabis-related products with you outside of Canada.

As a doctors office, we cannot provide legal advice surrounding your workplace, but you can find out more information here: Canabis In The Workplace