A medicinal marijuana farmer tends to his pot plants inside his grow up at his home in Miracle Valley, B.C. on May 15, 2009.
The Nova Scotia government is concerned about the potential implications of a court order requiring it to pay for the medical marijuana of a woman on social assistance.
Premier Darrell Dexter said Thursday the province needs time to review the decision because it could also apply to other treatments not currently covered by the province.
"It appears it could have wide-ranging implications that could go far beyond this particular coverage," he said outside a cabinet meeting.
"There could be a wide range of drugs that are not on that formulary, then an order to cover one may extend to other drugs as well."
Mr. Dexter couldn't put a time frame on the province's review, but it is working to a legal deadline if it wants to file an appeal of the decision by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
In a decision released Wednesday, the court ordered the Community Services Department to pay for Sally Campbell's prescription pot.
She suffers from a number of ailments and has a certificate from Health Canada permitting her to use marijuana to help alleviate her pain and nausea.
The province had denied Ms. Campbell's request that it increase her monthly allowance to cover the cost.
Ms. Campbell's lawyer has said the decision could have far-reaching implications for the province because many disabled people are not able to work. She expects there will be others on income assistance who also use medical marijuana and will now come forward and ask the province to pay for it.
However, each applicant will have to do what Ms. Campbell did - appear before a special-needs hearing and prove that the marijuana improves their quality of life, works better than other medications and is essential to the person's well-being.
Ms. Campbell's doctor had provided a letter saying medical marijuana is "essential to her health and well-being." In addition to helping with pain and nausea, he said it also improves her concentration, focus and energy level.
In his decision, Justice Gerald Moir wrote: "Medical marijuana is essential for Ms. Campbell."