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Medicinal marijuana clinic to require proof of diagnosis by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Thursday, May 21, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com A new medical cannabis clinic will open in Oakville next month. Canadian Cannabis Clinics (CCC) will open a cannabis-specialized medical clinic at 2525 Old Bronte Rd., Suite 260 on Thursday, June 4. The organization's director and general counsel, Ronan Levy, said residents concerned as they envision stoned hippies puffing joints in front of the clinic can put their concerns to rest. "We spend a lot of time screening patients," said Levy. "We require all patients to provide us with proof of diagnosis. So if you are telling me you are coming in for cannabis because you have migraines, we want to see that you have been to see your doctor and your doctor has diagnosed you with having migraines." Levy said the clinic will also ask for proof the patient has tried other medications for their condition. He emphasized the facility is not a dispensary and as such there will be no marijuana on site. Instead, he said, the medical clinic will see doctors, nurses and medical office assistants assess patients to see if medical cannabis is right for them. Once a patient is accepted a doctor will write them a kind of prescription for medical Ronan Levy, Canadian Cannabis Clinics' (CCC) co-founder and director, at a recently-opened clinic in Etobicoke. A similar clinic is set to open in Oakville on June 4. The clinics do not house any cannabis on site. | submitted photo cannabis. An on-site counsellor will then educate the patient on things like how to consume the marijuana, which the clinic recommends people vapourize as opposed to smoking. The prescription will then be mailed to a licensed medical marijuana producer with the patient receiving their cannabis by mail a short time later. Levy noted while the medical marijuana assessment is free, the cannabis itself is not, with licensed producers charging between $3.50 and $15 per gram, depending on the producer and marijuana strain chosen. Levy said there is an unfair prejudice held by some that medical marijuana patients are recreational drug users looking for access to legal cannabis. He argued this is not the case, noting those who attend his clinics are ill and are looking to medical marijuana as an option of last resort. "Cannabis can be used for chronic pain and that is the most common condition we see people coming in for," said Levy. "It can also be used for people who have spasticity or MS (Multiple Sclerosis) or Huntington's Disease or Parkinson's Disease or anxiety or depression or glaucoma." CCC has locations in St. Catharines, London, Ottawa, Etobicoke and two in Toronto. These clinics see between 15 and 40 patients per day. Levy said Oakville was selected as the location for the new clinic because the community is not being served by one already. He noted that for people living with chronic pain, travel is not easy and having a clinic locally means patients who live in Oakville and the surrounding area do not have to travel to Toronto or Etobicoke. The situation for medical marijuana in Canada has changed in recent years. According to Health Canada's website, the Government of Canada does not endorse the use of marijuana, but the courts have required people have reasonable access to a legal source of the drug when authorized by a physician. In 2013, the federal government replaced its medical marijuana legislation with the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. see Regulations on p.10 CONCEPT LIGHTING & FurNITurE The Regions Finest Lighting Store INJURED? I Can Help! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY UNLESS I GET YOU MONEY My team of experienced lawyers can help you with: · Car accidents · Slip and Falls · Disability Claims (Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, CPP) · Wrongful Dismissal OFFICES IN OAKVILLE AND TORONTO For a free consultation call: Oakville: 905.842.2022 or Toronto: 416.351.9222 email: sspadafora@slspc.ca PLATINUM INsTALLATION sALE NO DOWN PAYMENT. NO INTErEsT Proud suppliers of N. Americas largest Castle, Casa Loma. Great for the Castle, even better for your home. DO NOT PAY FOR 6 MONTHS. Free lightbulbs for life* · 243 Speers Road · 905.849.5483 www.conceptlighting.ca OAKvILLE We are the region's best lighting store and now furniture latest lighting designs at exclusive pricing! *Some conditions apply. See store for details. Concept Lighting Group Sam Spadafora Injury and Employment Law