Getting Started With Medical Cannabis

Business News

WINNIPEG, MB – More and more people these days are turning to medical cannabis as a natural alternative to traditional opioids and other prescription medication. As the medical cannabis industry in Canada continues to evolve and mature, and the country marches towards cannabis legalization in the coming months, there are an ever-increasing number of medical cannabis options available to patients. Here’s what you need to know to get started:

1. Educate Yourself – There is an abundance of information about medical cannabis readily available online from lots of credible websites. As a starting point, I recommend the following resources:

a. Health Canada website (Google medical cannabis Health Canada) – this site will provide an overview of the Accessing Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations along with some resources to clinical studies on the use of medical cannabis.

b. Mayo Clinic website (Google medical cannabis Mayo Clinic) – this site will provide an overview of medical cannabis, albeit with a US perspective, in mind.

c. Association websites – many associations across the country have devoted sections on their website to medical cannabis. For instance, the Canadian Arthritis Society has an extensive section on how people afflicted with arthritis are using medical cannabis to treat their symptoms. The Epilepsy Foundation offers similar resources online as well. Simply Google the terms “medical cannabis” + the name of the association to find what you’re looking for.

d. Industry websites – the #1 industry resource site is called Leafly (www.leafly.ca). Here you’ll find lots of great articles and videos on a variety of cannabis topics. You can also search their extensive strain directory for information about the effects

2. Talk to Your Doctor – This can be something that people typically try to avoid for a myriad of reasons. However, you should never feel uncomfortable having a meaningful medical conversation with your doctor. At the end of the day, it’s up to each of us to ensure that we feel as confident and comfortable as possible with the treatments we’re receiving and the medications we’re using.

3. If for any reason, your doctor refuses to discuss the use of medical cannabis with you, simply ask them whether they would be willing to provide a referral to another local doctor that is willing to discuss this option with you. If you don’t have a trusted medical advisor that you can rely on, please contact the Delta 9 Lifestyle Cannabis Clinic and we’ll happily meet with you to discuss your options.

4. Ask an Expert – There are several medical cannabis clinics now open in Winnipeg including the Delta 9 Lifestyle Cannabis Clinic in Osborne Village. Our Clinic Care Specialists have worked with hundreds of patients just like you. They would be happy to answer any questions you have about medical cannabis. Give us a shout at 204-410-3424 or stop by anytime at 478 Rive Ave.

Looking ahead to future topics that we’ll discuss in this monthly column will be an overview of different methods of consumption, how to choose the right Licensed Producer to meet your needs, understanding the differences between Indicas and Sativas, learning about terpenes and why they’re important, plus a whole lot more!

By Marshall Posner who is VP, Sales & Marketing, Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.