Pubdate: Mon, 03 Aug 2015
Source: Telegram, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2015 The Telegram
Contact:  http://www.thetelegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/303
Author: Louis Power
Page: A1

MARIJUANA FOR TRAUMA HOPES TO EXPAND IN N.L.

Founder says doctors who refuse to prescribe cannabis contribute to
crime

Fabian Henry hasn't been able to find a single doctor in Newfoundland
and Labrador who will prescribe medical marijuana - the drug that
saved his life.

Henry is the founder Marijuana For Trauma (MFT), a veteran-owned and
- -operated company that helps veterans with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) find relief with cannabinoid therapy. MFT recently
expanded into Newfoundland, opening a clinic on Peet Street in St.
John's in May. But so far, he said, the group has had to rely on a
clinic in Barrie, Ont., to help clients obtain prescriptions.

"Right now we're relying on telemedicine from a different province,
when in my opinion, Newfoundland should step up and help their own
people by providing a doctor who's compassionate," said Henry.

"By not medically prescribing this to those who deserve it, you're
contributing, basically, to illegal activity, because they have to get
it somewhere."

And people here are getting it, he said.

"I'm telling you right now there's a lot of Newfies who smoke
marijuana. Medical or not, they're getting relief. It's still
cannabis. So we're getting lots of support from the people, as far as
I can tell. It's more about educating the higher levels."

Since opening up shop in St. John's, more than 50 clients have walked
through MFT's doors to avail of resources and peer support. Henry said
there are a lot more veterans in the province who could benefit from
the service. There are about 15,000 vets in Canada diagnosed with
PTSD, he said, and with 4,000-5,000 vets in this province, there are
bound to be a few with PTSD here.

Turned life around

Henry would not have been alive to help other veterans if he hadn't
discovered medical marijuana. After six deployments in 12 years of
service with the Canadian military, he was released in 2012 for PTSD.

"From 2007 when I was diagnosed to 2012, I tried the traditional nine
pills a day that were given to me, and I almost killed myself, and
almost killed someone else. And then in 2010 I tried cannabis for the
first time, and I gave up every prescription except for that in the
last five years. I've been doing much, much better," he said, adding
he also finds yoga, and spending time with his children and in nature,
therapeutic.

"It literally saved my life. It allowed me to be present and be with
my kids again, allowed me to function. I lost my family. I lost my
wife and my house and everything I worked for because of PTSD. I never
found cannabis by then. But when I did - I'm just grateful one day at
a time, and I just want to help as many people as I can understand
cannabis."

No pill like it

So how does cannabis help with PTSD?

"The scientific thing that's happening, in a nutshell, is that there's
a drop in anandamide and a spike in CD1 receptors. And heating THC up
to a specific temperature levels out those receptors and makes us feel
normal," Henry said. "There's actually no pill in the world developed
specifically for PTSD that can do that. And I've taken every pill and
I've never gotten relief. And I've heard the same story over and over."

While MFT's focus is on helping veterans find that relief, Henry said
the group helps others who ask.

"I help as many civilians. We have tons of civilians as well - cancer
patients, chronic pain people - we can't turn them away. It's really
hard, so we try to prioritize veterans and help everybody if we can,"
he said.

Expansion plans

Henry has big plans for MFT, which is run by volunteers. Now operating
in Oromocto, N.B., St. John's, Markham, Ont., and Sydney, N.S., he
hopes to see it become a household name one day.

"I have a five-year vision to have 50 clinics across Canada," he said,
adding he sees some of that expansion happening in Labrador and in
western Newfoundland.

He said at first, the organization was challenged by stigma - both
about PTSD and cannabinoid therapy - but with time and education it
has gained a lot of support. "It's going to take some time. "But I
think through our group - through veterans with PTSD - we've surpassed
the death toll in the entire conflict in Afghanistan by suicide now.
We've lost 158 to the war in Afghanistan and we're now at 180 suicides.

"So it's hard for them to look at us and say that you don't deserve
cannabis," he said.

"We're getting somewhere with it, you know what I mean? We're beating
the stigma," he said.

Duelling lawsuits

MFT is immersed in legal action that Henry said is holding the company
back from growing.

His company launched a lawsuit against Organigram Holdings Inc. last
month alleging Organigram Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, breached an
agreement, denying MFT its part in Trauma Healing Centers Inc.

The Moncton-based medical marijuana supplier responded with legal
action of its own, calling MFT's allegations "inaccurate and
defamatory."

"We intend to defend these false claims vigorously in court and intend
to file a counter claim against MFT," Organigram said in a news
release on its website.

Henry was directed not to comment on the legal action while it's
underway, but he said MFT is waiting until it's finalized before going
ahead with expansion plans. In the meantime, he said, the company will
continue growing "organically."

"That's the best way to do it. We're not out there pushing it on
anyone. They come to us."
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MAP posted-by: Matt