Pubdate: Thu, 14 May 2015
Source: Metro (Calgary, CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Calgary
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4471
Author: Morgan Modjeski
Page: 9

FACTS OF THE 420 CLINIC

Patients Hope New Clinic Will Help Dispel Misconceptions

Sami Ali has been in constant pain for more than a decade.

Suffering from the after-effects of a punctured disc and dislocated 
shoulder, he's been a medicinal marijuana user for several years.

He and other patients hope the opening of the new 420 Clinic in 
Calgary, which aims to help patients access medicinal marijuana, will 
also help educate the public.

"I think a lot of people look at it as, 'This is bad; we shouldn't be 
doing this,'" he said. "This gives people an opportunity to really 
take a close look at it and see what it does for people, people who 
are actually taking it and dealing with their pain."

Located in Inglewood, the 420 Clinic celebrated its grand opening 
Wednesday and will support patients as they go through the process of 
applying for medical marijuana, helping them with everything from 
filling out paperwork to connecting with doctors.

Kalissa Bellefeuille, customer care manager, said the staff members 
hope the grand opening will serve as an introduction to the area.

"We're here to help people," she said. "It's really difficult for 
people to get their medical marijuana prescription - more difficult 
than any other prescription out there - so we're just here to help 
streamline that process."

However, some neighbouring business owners, like Romana Kaspar-Kraft, 
who runs the nearby Collectors' Gallery of Art, have concerns.

"Although they say it's not going to be a point where the marijuana 
is going to be on-site, are people still going to think it is?" she 
asked. "What kind of people is it going to bring into the area?

"Is it going to bring about comments from other people? Picketing? 
That's never good for the area."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom