VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICIALS FOCUS ON CONS IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISCUSSION

Marijuana centre opens for veterans suffering PTSD.

October 1, 2016

Western Canada’s first medical marijuana support service focused on helping veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain opened in Edmonton on Saturday.

Who are they?

“When I started this, I was suicidal,” says Marijuana for Trauma CEO and company founder Fabian Henry.

The 12-year Canadian Forces veteran was deployed six times, including two to Afghanistan.

His PTSD symptoms developed from events on his last tour and when Henry returned to Canada, his life fell apart.


“I lost my wife, my kids, everything I’d worked for, my house, everything I owned,” he says.

When he tried cannabis six years ago, he ditched his meds, pulled his life together and started his crusade to help veterans.

“I lived out of a box when I started this and I had $44 in my bank account,” he says.

“I was 30 years old and it was like the world lied to me about marijuana because I felt this overwhelming good feeling when I used it when my brain was telling me it was wrong.”

The Cape Bretoner used a café with free internet and cheap coffee to help veterans navigate the paperwork needed to access support programs and medical marijuana to treat PTSD and depression.

On Saturday, Edmonton became the 12th location of a network that stretches all the way across Canada to St. John’s, Nfld. and is targeted not just at military veterans but first responders and civilians.

What do they do?

“Let’s be clear: Marijuana for Trauma does not dispense marijuana,” says national business manager, Jean-Guy Bourguignon.

What it does do, he continues, is “facilitate and support safe and responsible patient access to medically prescribed cannabis by providing links to knowledgeable physicians for those suffering from PTSD, chronic pain and other conditions aided by medical marijuana.”

Essentially, they help veterans navigate “the medical and pension benefits maze of paperwork” while helping them source licensed medical-grade marijuana.

They also offer support programs of counsellors, peer support networks, and spousal and wellness programs.

They even offer cooking lessons with marijuana as a key ingredient and are working towards incorporating more health services including psychologists and social workers.

Why focus on marijuana to treat PTSD?

The company’s clinical coordinator, Francois Halle, says medical marijuana isn’t a cure for PTSD, but that it helps with symptoms and quality of life and different strains can be used to target different symptoms.

For instance, some strains with high cannabidiol (CBD) — a non-psychoactive compound of cannabis — are effective for the treatment of pain and anxiety because the CBD counteracts paranoia brought on by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that gets people high.

Other strains create a euphoric high that helps “relax the mind and body” and can aid in getting to sleep.

“Selecting the right strain and preparing medicinal marijuana is not always simple,” Halle says.

“Whether ingesting it in gel cap form, incorporating it into an edible, or smoking or vaping cannabis, patients need knowledge, guidance and skill.”

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/marijuana-centre-opens-for-veterans-suffering-ptsd

Yeah I found the Crafty to be just like the Mighty, just without the extra battery and the display.

I'm looking into getting the Crafty. All the reviews were good.

That is one of the reasons I like the Mighty. I can just at pop a bud in and vape. I find it vapes evenly and saving time and preventing a mess. Especially useful where I have hand issues.

Ground up for sure.

How is marijuana used in the DaVinci Ascent vaporizer , whole or ground up?

Thanks , I have confirmation from my provider that if VAC denies me I will not have to pay for the marijuana for the three to four months it takes VAC to decide just after there denial decision. My prescription is for one year.

Hit took me nearly three months to get VAC's approval. My iscript was two weeks from ending in that case.

I would just be careful firebird given your situation it could be up in the air. I don't want to see you 4K in debt for your medication if they don't cover it.

Can't , VAC has not decided yet on covering me for marijuana use.

did you do direct billing?

Ordered a Da Vinci Ascent vaporizer.

Yes they do firebird

Does VAC still pay up to $300 for a vaporizer?

I am still high from my tea yesterday.

That's my preferred method of Medicating. A little honey and cream... perfect.