Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Medicine Hat's first medical cannabis clinic will be open for business July 4.
Patients will be assessed to determine whether medical cannabis will be beneficial for their condition. This could include chronic pain, inflammation, nerve pain, where sufficient relief from symptoms has not been achieved with standard medical care, said Dr. Michael Weigle of Natural Health Services clinic. When appropriate they will then be given a prescription for medical cannabis use.
"A cannabis clinic specializing in cannabis and its medical applications is a welcome addition to our medical community," said Dr. Gaylord Wardell anesthesiologist and local pain specialist. "We have seen significant benefit to many chronic pain patients from cannabis. It has reduced the need for much more dangerous drugs like anti-inflammatories and opioids."
Other members of the team at NHS will discuss with the patient the individual strains of cannabis available. They will also assist in registering with licensed producers to have the medicine shipped to them.
"There are about 60 different cannabis products that work in harmony with each other rather than in isolation," said Michael. "When you are dealing with plant medicine/cannabis it is not about the individual chemical in isolation. Really it is how things work together in harmony to derive benefit."
The cannabis you can buy on the street is very different from the medical one.
"Medical cannabis is a well regulated and safely supplied product free of the risks and associations of street drugs. Using street cannabis is a fool's game," said Wardell. "Many dealers would sell you anything that makes a profit."
Medical cannabis will not be dispensed at the NHS clinic.
"We are not a dispensary. We are really trying to treat this as a medical product," said Weigle, noting it is not the sort of clinic typical in B.C. where people walk in off the street to buy a gram.
An Albertan with a medical cannabis prescription card has access to a variety of licensed dispensers throughout the country.
"Some of them have same day delivery," said Michael. "Most of them deliver within 24 to 48 hours."
A local pharmacist believes medical cannabis should be dispensed in licensed pharmacies.
"Marijuana is the number one drug to exacerbate latent Schizophrenia, something the current 'dispensaries' don't seem to know or care about," said Greg Bueckert, pharmacist, Greg's Remedy's Rx. "We need, and deserve, some professional management of a potent pain and nausea medication."
People already accessing medical cannabis have told Michael they find the product from a legally authorized provider is cleaner has less pesticide, less mould/fungus and it is not laced with other chemicals, said Weigle.
It also tends to be cheaper because there is no profit for the dealer, according to Weigle.
Patients at NHS, in the Ross Glen Business Park on Dunmore Road, will not be charged for the medical consultation. This is covered by Alberta Health just as any consultation with a family physician is covered, said Weigle.
Cannabis is still regulated as a restricted product so in addition to having a license to prescribe narcotics, Weigle had to apply to the College of Physicians and Surgeons for permission to prescribe cannabis.
How much demand there will be for service at NHS could be considerable.
"To be honest I think the demand is greater than most family physicians expect," said Weigle, who would like to see the decriminalization of cannabis and then see it widely recognized as a medical treatment.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Cannabis Clinic Opens July 4, Described As A Welcome Addition To The Community
Author: Gillian Slade
Contact: 403.527.1101
Photo Credit: Brain Nguyen
Website: Medicine Hat News
Patients will be assessed to determine whether medical cannabis will be beneficial for their condition. This could include chronic pain, inflammation, nerve pain, where sufficient relief from symptoms has not been achieved with standard medical care, said Dr. Michael Weigle of Natural Health Services clinic. When appropriate they will then be given a prescription for medical cannabis use.
"A cannabis clinic specializing in cannabis and its medical applications is a welcome addition to our medical community," said Dr. Gaylord Wardell anesthesiologist and local pain specialist. "We have seen significant benefit to many chronic pain patients from cannabis. It has reduced the need for much more dangerous drugs like anti-inflammatories and opioids."
Other members of the team at NHS will discuss with the patient the individual strains of cannabis available. They will also assist in registering with licensed producers to have the medicine shipped to them.
"There are about 60 different cannabis products that work in harmony with each other rather than in isolation," said Michael. "When you are dealing with plant medicine/cannabis it is not about the individual chemical in isolation. Really it is how things work together in harmony to derive benefit."
The cannabis you can buy on the street is very different from the medical one.
"Medical cannabis is a well regulated and safely supplied product free of the risks and associations of street drugs. Using street cannabis is a fool's game," said Wardell. "Many dealers would sell you anything that makes a profit."
Medical cannabis will not be dispensed at the NHS clinic.
"We are not a dispensary. We are really trying to treat this as a medical product," said Weigle, noting it is not the sort of clinic typical in B.C. where people walk in off the street to buy a gram.
An Albertan with a medical cannabis prescription card has access to a variety of licensed dispensers throughout the country.
"Some of them have same day delivery," said Michael. "Most of them deliver within 24 to 48 hours."
A local pharmacist believes medical cannabis should be dispensed in licensed pharmacies.
"Marijuana is the number one drug to exacerbate latent Schizophrenia, something the current 'dispensaries' don't seem to know or care about," said Greg Bueckert, pharmacist, Greg's Remedy's Rx. "We need, and deserve, some professional management of a potent pain and nausea medication."
People already accessing medical cannabis have told Michael they find the product from a legally authorized provider is cleaner has less pesticide, less mould/fungus and it is not laced with other chemicals, said Weigle.
It also tends to be cheaper because there is no profit for the dealer, according to Weigle.
Patients at NHS, in the Ross Glen Business Park on Dunmore Road, will not be charged for the medical consultation. This is covered by Alberta Health just as any consultation with a family physician is covered, said Weigle.
Cannabis is still regulated as a restricted product so in addition to having a license to prescribe narcotics, Weigle had to apply to the College of Physicians and Surgeons for permission to prescribe cannabis.
How much demand there will be for service at NHS could be considerable.
"To be honest I think the demand is greater than most family physicians expect," said Weigle, who would like to see the decriminalization of cannabis and then see it widely recognized as a medical treatment.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Cannabis Clinic Opens July 4, Described As A Welcome Addition To The Community
Author: Gillian Slade
Contact: 403.527.1101
Photo Credit: Brain Nguyen
Website: Medicine Hat News
