Robert Celt
New Member
A new clinic in Bowmanville is hoping to eliminate barriers to medical marijuana access for local patients.
The Lift Resource Centre opened in April at the 196 King St. E.
"The Lift Resource Centre is a patient counselling and education centre," explained the centre's director of operations, Prad Sekar. "We focus on providing services to patients who are looking to seek cannabis for medical purposes."
Patients who register with Lift work with a nurse on site and a doctor via video conference. Lift officials say patients must bring medical documents including documentation on other treatments they've tried. Medical marijuana can be prescribed to treat a number of conditions including anxiety and chronic pain and to alleviate symptoms for diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
If the doctor decides to prescribe marijuana, the nurse will assist the patient in accessing cannabis through Health Canada's Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.
"We do our best to ensure our patients understand what the rules and regulations are within the Canadian system which is the MMPR system," he said "In order to follow that, what are the steps that are required and the information and the guidance they need to be provided."
The consultation with the doctor is covered through OHIP but Mr. Sekar said the Lift Resource Centre charges a $95 annual fee to cover additional counselling and education services beyond what OHIP covers.
With promised legalization by the federal government, Mr. Sekar tackled questions on whether the business model for the centre was sustainable.
"There will still always be a medical need for cannabis, and the patients seeking it medically," he said. "For us at the Lift Resource Centre, the focus is still on education and counselling. Patients who are using cannabis for medical purposes will have questions, the goal for us is to continue being there so we can provide answers, so we do see ourselves being here over the long term and continuing to offer that education as the core component of our business model."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: ON: Lift Resource Clinic In Bowmanville Helps Patients Access Medical Marijuana
Author: Reka Szekely
Photo Credit: None found
Website: Durham Region
The Lift Resource Centre opened in April at the 196 King St. E.
"The Lift Resource Centre is a patient counselling and education centre," explained the centre's director of operations, Prad Sekar. "We focus on providing services to patients who are looking to seek cannabis for medical purposes."
Patients who register with Lift work with a nurse on site and a doctor via video conference. Lift officials say patients must bring medical documents including documentation on other treatments they've tried. Medical marijuana can be prescribed to treat a number of conditions including anxiety and chronic pain and to alleviate symptoms for diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
If the doctor decides to prescribe marijuana, the nurse will assist the patient in accessing cannabis through Health Canada's Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.
"We do our best to ensure our patients understand what the rules and regulations are within the Canadian system which is the MMPR system," he said "In order to follow that, what are the steps that are required and the information and the guidance they need to be provided."
The consultation with the doctor is covered through OHIP but Mr. Sekar said the Lift Resource Centre charges a $95 annual fee to cover additional counselling and education services beyond what OHIP covers.
With promised legalization by the federal government, Mr. Sekar tackled questions on whether the business model for the centre was sustainable.
"There will still always be a medical need for cannabis, and the patients seeking it medically," he said. "For us at the Lift Resource Centre, the focus is still on education and counselling. Patients who are using cannabis for medical purposes will have questions, the goal for us is to continue being there so we can provide answers, so we do see ourselves being here over the long term and continuing to offer that education as the core component of our business model."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: ON: Lift Resource Clinic In Bowmanville Helps Patients Access Medical Marijuana
Author: Reka Szekely
Photo Credit: None found
Website: Durham Region
