White Rock, B.C. – The Knowledge Translation (KT) Challenge is a collaborative initiative in BC led by Providence Health Care, Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Cancer, Fraser Health, and Northern Health. Designed to help healthcare professionals turn research into action, eight teams across Fraser Health have been awarded this grant, averaging around $5,000.

Peace Arch Hospital + Community Healthy Foundation (PAHCHF) is proud to support one of these projects locally, taking place within the White Rock Primary Care Network. By investing in initiatives like this, PAHCHF is helping translate research into practice, which in turn equips White Rock’s primary care teams with the tools they need to support informed care in our community.

A team of clinical pharmacists are addressing an increasingly common, but sometimes sensitive, topic in primary care: medical cannabis for chronic pain. Clinical pharmacists Anita Ho, Anita Rasoda and Wendy Tacuba Chavelas recognized this growing gap in primary care. While many patients living with chronic pain ask about cannabis, research shows that 56% of care providers feel unprepared to answer patients’ questions, despite feeling generally positive about the use of medical cannabis. At the same time, 30% of people living with chronic pain report using cannabis, although the evidence around drug interactions, side effects, and long-term safety remains limited, particularly for patients managing multiple medications or chronic conditions.

With KT Challenge funding from PAHCHF, the team is developing a practical, evidence-based toolkit to support balanced, informed discussions between patients and care providers. The initiative will begin within the White Rock Primary Care Network, with support at the Chronic Pain Clinic at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey. Importantly, the goal is not to promote cannabis use, but to ensure patients receive thoughtful, individualized advice grounded in the best available evidence.