Veterans Affairs Canada Cannabis Reimbursement: Limits, Rates and How It Works in 2026

Veterans Affairs Canada has reimbursed medical cannabis for eligible Veterans since 2008, and today it is one of the most widely used coverage routes in the country. In the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year alone, VAC reimbursed more than 31,000 Veterans for cannabis for medical purposes.

The program changed in 2026. If you are already reimbursed, or thinking about applying, this guide sets out the current limits, the new rate, and exactly what VAC needs from you.

What changed in 2026

In Budget 2025, the federal government lowered the maximum reimbursement rate for cannabis for medical purposes from $8.50 per gram to $6.00 per gram. The change applies by order date:

• Products ordered before 1 April 2026 are reimbursed up to $8.50 per gram.
• Products ordered on or after 1 April 2026 are reimbursed up to $6.00 per gram.

The daily gram amount on your existing decision letter does not change, and you do not need to reapply. Only the maximum rate per gram has moved.

The standard limit: 3 grams per day

VAC reimburses up to 3 grams per day of dried cannabis, or the equivalent in fresh cannabis, edibles, extracts including cannabis oil, or topicals. This limit dates back to the 2016 policy review, when a panel of Canadian medical experts recommended a cautious approach and most considered one to two grams per day a reasonable amount for the vast majority of patients.

Oils, capsules and other formats are converted to their dried cannabis equivalent, so the 3 gram ceiling applies whatever form you use. If you are unsure which format suits you, our guide to using cannabinoid oil and our comparison of THC and CBD are good starting points.

Going above 3 grams per day

Reimbursement above 3 grams is possible, but it is an exception process with specific paperwork. The request must include documentation from a medical specialist that clearly states:

1. The medical rationale for using cannabis for your condition.
2. The specific daily quantity above 3 grams being recommended.
3. The contraindications that were considered and confirmed absent.
4. The alternative treatments that were tried, and why they were ineffective or unsuitable.

Where the authorization is for chronic pain, VAC also requires documentation from a specialist in the relevant area of treatment. A letter from a family doctor alone is not enough for an exception request.

Where you buy matters

VAC only reimburses cannabis purchased from a federally licensed seller. Seeds and plants are the one exception. That has two consequences Veterans often miss:

• Cannabis bought from a provincial retail store is not reimbursed, even if you use it for a medical condition.
• Cannabis you grow yourself is not reimbursed. If you are weighing home production against coverage, read our ACMPR licence guide before deciding, because the two routes work very differently financially.

In practice, many licensed sellers bill VAC’s claims administrator directly, so eligible Veterans often pay nothing up front within their approved amount.

How to get started

1. Talk to a healthcare practitioner. They assess whether cannabis is appropriate for your condition and, if so, issue a medical document stating your daily amount in grams. Our complete guide to cannabis prescriptions in Canada explains this step.
2. Register with a licensed seller. You send them your medical document and complete their registration form.
3. Request VAC reimbursement. Your approved daily amount appears on your decision letter. Keep it, along with your receipts.
4. Keep your authorization current. Medical documents are time-limited, so book renewals before they expire to avoid a gap in coverage.

The step-by-step prescription guide and our article on mistakes to avoid when applying cover the errors that most often cause delays.

Conditions Veterans commonly seek cannabis for

VAC’s own audit work found that most Veterans reimbursed at higher amounts have mental health conditions, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder. Chronic pain, sleep disturbance and anxiety are also common reasons for authorization. For more on the pain side, see our guide to medical cannabis for chronic pain, and for a broader overview read our complete guide for Veterans.

It is worth being clear that Health Canada has not approved dried cannabis as a therapeutic product, and research into long-term effectiveness is still developing. That is why VAC takes a cautious approach, and why a practitioner who reviews your full medication list and history matters.

Frequently asked questions

Next step

If you are a Veteran living with pain, PTSD, sleep problems or anxiety that conventional treatment has not resolved, a consultation will tell you whether medical cannabis is appropriate and how VAC coverage applies to you. Apply now, see the other programs on our eligible for coverage page, or contact our team.