Robert Celt
New Member
A health and wellness enterprise specializing in helping people gain access to medical marijuana prescriptions is preparing to open a clinic in Cambridge later this month.
Bodystream, which operates numerous wellness-oriented centres in southern Ontario, plans to open at 1150 Franklin Blvd. on April 26.
The opening won't come with much pomp and ceremony, however, as Bodystream owner Brian Warner prefers a discreet approach when introducing the still-controversial subject of medical marijuana to a community.
"I want to be able to slide a clinic into the community and not offend anybody, not that we're doing anything offensive," laughed Warner, when contacted for an interview with the Times.
Hoping for a "palatable" introduction to the city, Warner has done some advertising to let residents know about Bodystream's services and will let word of mouth take care of the rest.
That's because he knows the demand is there, but not from those one might suspect.
People may be surprised to learn the average person who seeks the help of Bodystream's services in accessing prescriptions to medical marijuana is between 40 and 60 years old, explained Warner.
"If they looked at our typical waiting room, they might be a bit surprised by the average person coming in," he said.
In fact, the clinic doesn't accept patients younger than the age of 25.
Many turning to cannabis are looking for alternative sources of relief from health conditions including chronic pain, arthritis and Crohn's disease.
Medical marijuana has been unfairly "vilified" in the realm of health care, said Warner, and is much less harmful than narcotics often prescribed by doctors.
And although legal, the stigma still exists, he said.
That attitude is changing, though, insists Warner, who said Bodystream is doing its part to inform and educate the public.
"The people who seem to be most vocal seem to be the least educated about the system and about the product," he said.
"They think we're opening up a pot shop in their community or they think it's just a bunch of potheads just trying to get high."
While health care legislation changes have made medical marijuana more accessible, there are still many prerequisites to obtaining a prescription.
Patients are pre-screened by the clinic to see if medical marijuana is right for them even before getting an appointment, and they must provide all the documentation to prove they have a health condition.
Any physician can write prescriptions for cannabis, noted Warner.
"But most family physicians and specialists are not comfortable with it yet, because it's so new or they're just not familiar with how to prescribe, or they're reluctant to."
Some physicians refer patients to his clinics and provide the necessary paperwork, said Warner. Others just outright refuse because they don't see a need for it, he said.
In such cases, the clinics offer the services of its own doctors who can give the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to a patient request.
"Bodystream has its own group of doctors that are familiar with cannabis and are comfortable prescribing it because of experience."
Once patients receive a prescription, their information is forwarded to a licensed producer — which operates like a pharmacy — which will then ship product directly.
That's an important point Warner likes to emphasize, especially when responding to backlash from anyone who doesn't want his clinic moving into the community.
"There's no medical marijuana at the clinic at all," he said. "Our clinic never comes into contact with any of the product. We're simply a medical clinic providing consultations."
The process can take time, said Warner, especially considering it can take two to four weeks for a consultation appointment. The wait time in itself is a valuable screening tool, he added.
"If they didn't legitimately need this, right there we've weeded out that demographic of people who might be trying to abuse the system."
Warner said there are no fees for the service, as medical cannabis is now OHIP-billable as permitted by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.
"At legitimate clinics, there are no fees associated at all with the service. The patient should never have to pay."
Patients do have to pay for the product, but how much depends on health insurance coverage.
Communities will soon have to embrace medical marijuana, maintains Warner, because interest in alternative-source pain medication is growing so much so that he is opening a new location every few months.
"There's quite a bit of demand."
Until people get used to the concept, Warner plans to remain understated, so as not to make people feel guilty or embarrassed to walk in the door of one of his wellness clinics.
Even the company's branding is low-key, he said, jesting, "It's not like Marijuana-R-Us or anything."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Canada: Cambridge Clinic To Help People Get Medical Marijuana Prescriptions
Author: Lisa Rutledge
Photo Credit: 123RF
Website: Cambridge Times
Bodystream, which operates numerous wellness-oriented centres in southern Ontario, plans to open at 1150 Franklin Blvd. on April 26.
The opening won't come with much pomp and ceremony, however, as Bodystream owner Brian Warner prefers a discreet approach when introducing the still-controversial subject of medical marijuana to a community.
"I want to be able to slide a clinic into the community and not offend anybody, not that we're doing anything offensive," laughed Warner, when contacted for an interview with the Times.
Hoping for a "palatable" introduction to the city, Warner has done some advertising to let residents know about Bodystream's services and will let word of mouth take care of the rest.
That's because he knows the demand is there, but not from those one might suspect.
People may be surprised to learn the average person who seeks the help of Bodystream's services in accessing prescriptions to medical marijuana is between 40 and 60 years old, explained Warner.
"If they looked at our typical waiting room, they might be a bit surprised by the average person coming in," he said.
In fact, the clinic doesn't accept patients younger than the age of 25.
Many turning to cannabis are looking for alternative sources of relief from health conditions including chronic pain, arthritis and Crohn's disease.
Medical marijuana has been unfairly "vilified" in the realm of health care, said Warner, and is much less harmful than narcotics often prescribed by doctors.
And although legal, the stigma still exists, he said.
That attitude is changing, though, insists Warner, who said Bodystream is doing its part to inform and educate the public.
"The people who seem to be most vocal seem to be the least educated about the system and about the product," he said.
"They think we're opening up a pot shop in their community or they think it's just a bunch of potheads just trying to get high."
While health care legislation changes have made medical marijuana more accessible, there are still many prerequisites to obtaining a prescription.
Patients are pre-screened by the clinic to see if medical marijuana is right for them even before getting an appointment, and they must provide all the documentation to prove they have a health condition.
Any physician can write prescriptions for cannabis, noted Warner.
"But most family physicians and specialists are not comfortable with it yet, because it's so new or they're just not familiar with how to prescribe, or they're reluctant to."
Some physicians refer patients to his clinics and provide the necessary paperwork, said Warner. Others just outright refuse because they don't see a need for it, he said.
In such cases, the clinics offer the services of its own doctors who can give the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to a patient request.
"Bodystream has its own group of doctors that are familiar with cannabis and are comfortable prescribing it because of experience."
Once patients receive a prescription, their information is forwarded to a licensed producer — which operates like a pharmacy — which will then ship product directly.
That's an important point Warner likes to emphasize, especially when responding to backlash from anyone who doesn't want his clinic moving into the community.
"There's no medical marijuana at the clinic at all," he said. "Our clinic never comes into contact with any of the product. We're simply a medical clinic providing consultations."
The process can take time, said Warner, especially considering it can take two to four weeks for a consultation appointment. The wait time in itself is a valuable screening tool, he added.
"If they didn't legitimately need this, right there we've weeded out that demographic of people who might be trying to abuse the system."
Warner said there are no fees for the service, as medical cannabis is now OHIP-billable as permitted by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.
"At legitimate clinics, there are no fees associated at all with the service. The patient should never have to pay."
Patients do have to pay for the product, but how much depends on health insurance coverage.
Communities will soon have to embrace medical marijuana, maintains Warner, because interest in alternative-source pain medication is growing so much so that he is opening a new location every few months.
"There's quite a bit of demand."
Until people get used to the concept, Warner plans to remain understated, so as not to make people feel guilty or embarrassed to walk in the door of one of his wellness clinics.
Even the company's branding is low-key, he said, jesting, "It's not like Marijuana-R-Us or anything."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Canada: Cambridge Clinic To Help People Get Medical Marijuana Prescriptions
Author: Lisa Rutledge
Photo Credit: 123RF
Website: Cambridge Times
