Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Ontario, Canada - Another option has sprouted in Sudbury for those seeking to alleviate pain with pot.
Bodystream Medical Marijuana Services now has a clinic space on Paris Street and is inviting those eligible for this type of treatment to call them or pop in.
"We're operational now and will have signage up within the next couple of weeks," said Brian Warner, co-owner of the enterprise. "We're like any other doctor's office, but specialized, so we can steer you towards what you need."
Last month, a Canadian Cannabis Clinic opened on Larch Street.
Bodystream works in a similar way by providing doctor assessments (via telemedicine) and facilitating the delivery of medical pot from licensed producers.
"Any doctor can prescribe it," noted Warner. "It's not technically a specialty. But we have doctors who are willing to prescribe and who are trained in this area."
The Bodystream representative spoke Sunday at a public information session in the Steelworkers Hall that drew about 16 interested people.
"We're trying to treat this like any other medication," he said afterwards. "We're not trying to encourage the pot community. Even with our branding, you'll see there's no big marijuana leaf."
No cannabis is kept on the premises of a Bodystream clinic, Warner said. Patients who qualify for the medicine will have it mailed directly to their doors. "We're gatekeepers in a way," he said.
Bodystream started in Barrie in 2012, and now counts nine locations, including other northern outlets in Kirkland Lake, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. North Bay and Timmins will both get their own clinic in the early fall, Warner said.
Previously, Sudburians had to leave town to find a medical pot specialist, he said, and many made the trip to the Bodystream site in Barrie.
Unlike some medical marijuana clinics, Bodystream does not charge an administrative fee, Warner stressed.
"There is no fee for our service and there shouldn't be one," he said.
The cost of an appointment is fully covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, so a patient need only have a valid OHIP card.
The medicine itself will cost the user, however. Warner said that can range "from $5 a gram to $15 a gram, with the average being $7 a gram for most licensed producers."
Those on limited incomes can qualify for a discount from some producers, he added.
One information session attendee wondered if Bodystream puts a cap on THC, the ingredient of marijuana that produces a high.
Warner said the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons recommends THC not exceed 15 per cent, but strains in the 17-18 per cent range have proven to be effective for patients, so "we don't have a blanket policy."
The service is firm, however, about issuing prescriptions of three to six months -- rather than a full year, as some clinics have done -- and generally won't prescribe to anyone under the age of 25.
"In an effort to protect doctors, we try to follow the college guidelines," said Warner.
The easiest way for a patient to secure an appointment with Bodystream is through a referral from their physician, but if that isn't available, the clinic can still work with the individual to gain the necessary documentation.
"We have a team of doctors, who are all basically specialists and family physicians, and we'll connect you using telemedicine," Warner said. "So it will be like a regular appointment, except on the other side of the desk, instead of the doctor physically sitting there, it's going to be a large monitor. But we will still have nurses and admin staff doing all the regular things."
That said, "we are not taking over primary care," he noted. "So you can't come in and talk about six other health problems."
Warner predicted legalization of marijuana is still three years away, but even when it becomes generally available, it will be heavily taxed, "so there will always be a benefit to having a prescription and doing it through the medical system, as opposed to recreationally and self-medicating."
While there is still some skepticism among the public - and parts of the medical community - about cannabis, Warner said the substance's healing potential is hard to ignore.
"More and more, it's becoming acceptable," he said. "Everybody is getting on board. More studies are being funded, and you can't deny the anecdotal evidence."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Sudbury Gets New Medical Marijuana Clinic
Author: Jim Moodie
Contact: 705-674-5271
Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson
Website: The Sudbury Star
Bodystream Medical Marijuana Services now has a clinic space on Paris Street and is inviting those eligible for this type of treatment to call them or pop in.
"We're operational now and will have signage up within the next couple of weeks," said Brian Warner, co-owner of the enterprise. "We're like any other doctor's office, but specialized, so we can steer you towards what you need."
Last month, a Canadian Cannabis Clinic opened on Larch Street.
Bodystream works in a similar way by providing doctor assessments (via telemedicine) and facilitating the delivery of medical pot from licensed producers.
"Any doctor can prescribe it," noted Warner. "It's not technically a specialty. But we have doctors who are willing to prescribe and who are trained in this area."
The Bodystream representative spoke Sunday at a public information session in the Steelworkers Hall that drew about 16 interested people.
"We're trying to treat this like any other medication," he said afterwards. "We're not trying to encourage the pot community. Even with our branding, you'll see there's no big marijuana leaf."
No cannabis is kept on the premises of a Bodystream clinic, Warner said. Patients who qualify for the medicine will have it mailed directly to their doors. "We're gatekeepers in a way," he said.
Bodystream started in Barrie in 2012, and now counts nine locations, including other northern outlets in Kirkland Lake, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. North Bay and Timmins will both get their own clinic in the early fall, Warner said.
Previously, Sudburians had to leave town to find a medical pot specialist, he said, and many made the trip to the Bodystream site in Barrie.
Unlike some medical marijuana clinics, Bodystream does not charge an administrative fee, Warner stressed.
"There is no fee for our service and there shouldn't be one," he said.
The cost of an appointment is fully covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, so a patient need only have a valid OHIP card.
The medicine itself will cost the user, however. Warner said that can range "from $5 a gram to $15 a gram, with the average being $7 a gram for most licensed producers."
Those on limited incomes can qualify for a discount from some producers, he added.
One information session attendee wondered if Bodystream puts a cap on THC, the ingredient of marijuana that produces a high.
Warner said the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons recommends THC not exceed 15 per cent, but strains in the 17-18 per cent range have proven to be effective for patients, so "we don't have a blanket policy."
The service is firm, however, about issuing prescriptions of three to six months -- rather than a full year, as some clinics have done -- and generally won't prescribe to anyone under the age of 25.
"In an effort to protect doctors, we try to follow the college guidelines," said Warner.
The easiest way for a patient to secure an appointment with Bodystream is through a referral from their physician, but if that isn't available, the clinic can still work with the individual to gain the necessary documentation.
"We have a team of doctors, who are all basically specialists and family physicians, and we'll connect you using telemedicine," Warner said. "So it will be like a regular appointment, except on the other side of the desk, instead of the doctor physically sitting there, it's going to be a large monitor. But we will still have nurses and admin staff doing all the regular things."
That said, "we are not taking over primary care," he noted. "So you can't come in and talk about six other health problems."
Warner predicted legalization of marijuana is still three years away, but even when it becomes generally available, it will be heavily taxed, "so there will always be a benefit to having a prescription and doing it through the medical system, as opposed to recreationally and self-medicating."
While there is still some skepticism among the public - and parts of the medical community - about cannabis, Warner said the substance's healing potential is hard to ignore.
"More and more, it's becoming acceptable," he said. "Everybody is getting on board. More studies are being funded, and you can't deny the anecdotal evidence."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Sudbury Gets New Medical Marijuana Clinic
Author: Jim Moodie
Contact: 705-674-5271
Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson
Website: The Sudbury Star
