Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jun 2017
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Calgary Sun
Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.calgarysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Gerry Forbes
Page: 62

POT LEGALIZATION: GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

The legalization of marijuana is just around the corner and many
questions still have to be studied and answered to make sure it's
going to be done responsibly, and more importantly safely, so the
benefits can be highlighted for those still questioning the decision.

The National Access Cannabis (http:/nationalaccesscanabis.com) is
doing the largest-ever harm reduction study for opioids using
cannabis(http:/opiatestudy.ca/)

They are starting with 2,000 patients and plan to grow it quickly,
based on the medical resources and the medical community's extensive
interest in the study.

They are doing a medical outreach to inform and educate doctors about
the study and gain their commitment to send or recommend patients.

A very important part of the study will be Canadian Forces veterans
with chronic pain. This has been a worldwide problem with addiction
issues, and so they hope to get this problem solved before moving ahead.

The president is Derek Odgen, who was an RCMP officer for some 27
years.

Derek was in charge of Canada's drug enforcement and crime division
for many of those years with the force.

He founded a company called VidaCannabis and they are the leading
consultants for security polices in Colorado, where pot is already
licensed.

He has also helped several other states get rolling with the cannabis
program with great success.

They will be in Calgary on Friday down at the Hyatt Regency, 700
Centre St., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

It will be an evening of physicians and clinicians discussing the
Endocannabinoid course and everything related to addiction and pain
management strategies and a pragmatic way to move forward.

I know this issue hits home with a lot of people suffering pain and
are very interested in how we are approaching the upcoming
legalization.

This night should answer all your questions and show you how you can
get involved in the study.

There are currently 13 stores across Canada including a location right
here in Calgary; a new clinic will open in the coming months in Edmonton.
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MAP posted-by: Matt