Medical marijuana patients will now be able to consume marijuana — and not just smoke it — as well as use other extracts and derivatives, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today.

Canada's Supreme Court ruled UNANIMOUSLY against the federal government today.

As of today, Canadians have expanded the definition of medical marijuana beyond the "dried" form. Until today, Canadians were legally allowed to only smoke medical marijuana. Now, patients are allowed to use medical marijuana in any form they choose.

The country's highest court found the current restriction to dried marijuana (i.e. - smoking marijuana) violates the right to liberty and security "in a manner that is arbitrary and hence is not in accord with the principles of fundamental justice." Reports CBC News:

The decision upholds earlier rulings by lower courts in British Columbia that said [the laws] went against a person's right to consume medical marijuana in the form they choose.

Many users felt smoking it was even potentially harmful. However, methods such as brewing marijuana leaves in tea or baking cannabis into brownies left patients vulnerable to being charged with possession and trafficking under the law.  

Some officials such as Health Minister Rona Ambrose, state marijuana still has to go through safety regulations at Health Canada: "Let's remember, there's only one authority in Canada that has the authority and the expertise to make a drug into a medicine and that's Health Canada."

When asked when Health Canada would start this process, she said "that isn't my job to decide."

In any case, the judges have ruled, and medical marijuana is now legal in all forms. Hooray!

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC its affiliates, or its employees.

More from Jesse Ventura's Off The Grid

Advertisement