What changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for your product choices.
As part of the federal Budget 2025 Comprehensive Expenditure Review, Veterans Affairs Canada reduced the maximum reimbursement rate for cannabis for medical purposes.
The maximum reimbursement rate dropped from $8.50 to $6.00 per gram, effective April 1, 2026. This is a 29% reduction that affects approximately 31,230 authorized veterans and RCMP members across Canada.
| Policy element | Before April 1, 2026 | After April 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum reimbursement rate | $8.50 per gram | $6.00 per gram |
| Daily quantity limit | 3 grams per day | 3 grams per day (unchanged) |
| Eligible product forms | Dried, fresh, oil, edibles, extracts, topicals | Same (unchanged) |
| Purchase source | Federal licensed sellers only | Federal licensed sellers only (unchanged) |
| Medical authorization | Required | Required (unchanged) |
| Exceptional approval (>3g/day) | Available with specialist documentation | Available (unchanged) |
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada — Cannabis for Medical Purposes; VAC Departmental Plan 2026-27.
If your products are already priced at or below $6.00/gram: No change. Your coverage continues as before.
If your products are priced above $6.00/gram: VAC will still reimburse, but only up to $6.00/gram. You will need to cover the difference out of pocket, or consider switching to products priced within the new cap.
This is particularly relevant for veterans using oils, extracts, CBD-forward formulations, and topicals, which are often priced above the recreational market average that the $6.00 benchmark is based on.
1. Review your current product pricing. Check whether the products you're currently using are priced above or below $6.00/gram (or gram-equivalent for oils, edibles, and topicals). Your licensed producer or Medavie Blue Cross can help confirm.
2. Ask about alternatives. If your current products are above the new cap, ask your licensed producer whether they offer comparable options at or below $6.00/gram. Many producers are adjusting pricing in response to the change.
3. Talk to your healthcare provider. If you're considering switching products, discuss it with your prescribing healthcare practitioner first. Changes in format, potency, or terpene profile can affect your experience.
4. Use Prescriptii to compare. Our guided matching tool can help you explore licensed products based on your symptoms and preferences, which may help you identify alternatives within the new reimbursement range.
5. Know your rights. Your daily quantity limit of 3 grams has not changed. The exceptional approval process for veterans requiring more than 3g/day remains available with specialist documentation. Your access to all product forms (dried, oil, edibles, extracts, topicals) is unchanged.
| Veterans and RCMP members authorized | ~31,230 |
| Annual reimbursement (program-wide) | ~$245 million |
| Annual volume (program-wide) | ~30,000 kg |
| Veterans authorized at 3g/day | ~66% of participants |
| New maximum rate | $6.00/gram (effective April 1, 2026) |
| Previous rate | $8.50/gram (since 2016) |
Sources: VAC; GrowerIQ analysis (citing VAC QP Note VAC-2025-QP-00011); Cassels legal analysis.
If you have questions about how the reimbursement change affects your specific situation:
Veterans Affairs Canada: 1-866-281-8298 (general inquiries)
Medavie Blue Cross (claims processing): Contact information is on your VAC benefits card.
Your licensed producer: They can confirm product pricing against the new $6.00/gram cap and may offer alternatives.
Your healthcare provider: Discuss any planned product changes before switching.
Prescriptii can help you explore licensed alternatives based on your symptoms and preferences.
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