Pubdate: Thu, 21 Apr 2016
Source: Barrie Advance, The (CN ON)
Page: 34-35
Copyright: 2016 Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.simcoe.com/barrie-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2192
Author: Jenni Dunning

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT COSTLY

The first time James Dean Wolfenden had a seizure, he fell in a school
hallway, cutting open his head when he smacked it on the floor.

The Barrie boy had no family history of epilepsy, but he was having a
massive episode in front of his Grade 6 classmates.

That was the first of many. Now 17, he can have about 150 seizures a
day unless he ingests medical marijuana.

Accessing the product may soon become easier, now that a medical
marijuana centre is opening in Barrie.

"I wasn't even able to look after myself properly. Since I don't have
seizures as often, I feel normal. I have more motivation," Wolfenden
said. "People think it would be the opposite with marijuana."

He has taken medication to curb his seizures since 2009, but it was
not until he tried medical marijuana about six months ago that he saw
a major difference.

Instead of 150 seizures a day, he has about 10.

"It feels like my brain will overheat ( when I have a seizure ). Too
much information at the same time," he said. "I'll black out or twitch
or stare at something for a few seconds. If I miss my medication, I'll
have even worse seizures that last 45 minutes to an hour."

Even though he has a medical marijuana prescription, it costs $1,000 a
month to maintain his dosage because it is not covered by health
insurance, said his mom, Kelly.

She said she orders the marijuana through one of the 17 Health
Canada-licensed producers in Ontario.

It has a high cannabidiol ( CBD ) content, which is the medical
ingredient, and a low tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) content, which is
what creates a high.

Wolfenden said vaping the drug or ingesting it as oil makes him feel
relaxed, helps him sleep, eat more and be less anxious.

It is safer than a drug bought from an illegal dealer and guarantees
the amount of medicinal ingredient, he said.

"It makes you happy to see your child happy, ( but ) where am I going
to get ( the funds to cover his prescription ) so he can function?"
Kelly said.

She has contacted politicians and set up donation boxes at Pizza Plus
& Subs, The Red Koi Tattoos and Mac's Convenience Store on Grove
Street. She also hopes local charities can help cover some of the costs.

Wolfenden said having a medical marijuana store in Barrie would at
least make it easier to get the drugs he needs.

"That would be a lot more convenient. Keeping it for medical purposes
and getting it out of the grey zone it is in right now."

Medical marijuana centre Tweed Main Street plans to open on Dunlop
Street near Uptown Theatre within the next couple months, said Mark
Zekulin, president of Tweed Inc.

The company is licensed with Health Canada and has locations in
Guelph, Hamilton and Etobicoke.

Although its Barrie site will look like a regular store, no cannabis
products will be sold there, he said.

"We are not ( a ) dispensary that sells drugs to you as you walk
through the door. That's the most important fact," Zekulin said.

The company is aiming to have an open, welcoming atmosphere where
anyone, whether or not they use medical marijuana, can come and learn
about cannabis, seek advice on which strains of the drug may work best
for them, and place orders, with assistance if needed.

All orders will still arrive in the mail to people's addresses as
usual.

Customers will also be able to buy merchandise and Tweed Pantry items,
such as cupcake mix to which cannabis oil can be added.

"When we started three years ago, there was a lot more stigma about
medical cannabis," Zekulin said. "We are there to help people learn.
Calling it 'Main Street' is really calling it out and saying it needs
to be mainstream."

He said part of the reason he chose Barrie for a Tweed Main Street
location is the fact Justin Whitehall, former medical director of
Simcoe Holistic Health, is based here.

Whitehall is overseeing the local Tweed brand licensing and
training.

"This is a dream come true for me," he said. "I have experience
running a cannabis clinic over the last three years. To me, this is
the most patient-focused framework in Canada."

[sidebar]

Where do we stand on marijuana?

The federal government has committed to legalizing, regulating and
restricting access to marijuana, but it is still deciding how and
where it will be made available.

Legislation will be introduced next spring, Health Minister Jane
Philpott announced yesterday at the United Nations. Recreational and
medical uses of the drug are expected to be treated differently within
the law.

The Ontario government announced in March it would ban smoking and
vaping of medicinal cannabis in all enclosed public places, workplaces
and most outdoor areas, effective as early as July 1.

In February, a federal court judge ruled medical marijuana users
should be allowed to grow their own pot but delayed his official
decision for six months so the government can prepare new rules.
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