Local physicians bring cannabis practice home

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This article was published 29/04/2019 (2546 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of local family physicians is pulling back the curtain on medical cannabis.

On the heels of Ontario-based CannaWay Clinic’s arrival in Winnipeg, opening its first physician-led cannabis clinic in River Heights, three local medical practices have partnered with the company to offer medical cannabis assessment and treatment plans within their neighbourhood office.

Fourie Smith, the medical director of Dakota Medical Clinic, initiated the CannaWay Clinic Affiliate Program in Manitoba shortly after the legalization of recreational marijuana.

“The personal journey as a physician started prior to the legalization of marijuana, when marijuana was not yet legalized, but you were able to obtain the product if it was prescribed to you by a physician,” Smith, the Manitoba medical director of CannaWay Clinic Affiliate Program, said.

“It was a very unsatisfying situation because what I would find as a physician is I had patients walk into my office using marijuana for recreational purposes, and try to come up with some sort of medical reason for me to prescribe marijuana, so they could use it legally and not get in trouble.

“That’s not a very positive experience and I think many physicians have had that experience.”

Since cannabis was legalized in October, that trend has stopped, Smith said, and patients with a sincere interest in how cannabis may improve their quality of life are seeking professional medical advice.

However, Smith said he was not very familiar with medical cannabis or in a position to adequately advise patients about their options, if cannabis was determined to be an appropriate treatment.

“Following the legalization, I found that the medical cannabis industry started to move forward at a significant pace as people felt less stigmatized, as people became more aware, and started to ask more pertinent questions as they pertain to medical cannabis,” he said.

As CannaWay looked to Manitoba markets — it has five standalone clinics operating in Ontario — Smith worked with the private, for-profit business to create the affiliate model. Four practices were selected based on their location and reputation. Smith said physicians at the practices have taken a medical cannabis education and certification program to be a part of the program.

The four affiliates are Dakota Medical Centre (7-845 Dakota St.), Bison Family Medical Clinic (1686 Pembina Hwy.), Lakewood Medical Centre (30 Lakewood Blvd.), and Clearspring Medical Clinic in Steinbach, Man. The affiliate clinics are also staffed with cannabis counsellors who will lead a patient through the steps of acquiring medical cannabis, if a physician prescribes it for treatment, and offer support services.

Unlike some medical cannabis clinics, Smith said patients do not pay any fees to access treatment at the CannaWay affiliate clinics, and no cannabis is dispensed on the premises. However, patients must be referred to the affiliate clinics by their primary care provider.

“The patient does not pay any money to the clinic or to the cannabis counsellor,” Smith said. “That would be inappropriate and that would be not in line with the insured health services act.”

A number of medical cannabis clinics operate in Winnipeg and are important for folks who do not have a primary care provider, Smith said, but within the affiliate clinic program, patients can access services within their community, and through their family doctor.

“The most important thing here is also the continuity of care. The referral is made to the physician, he evaluates the patient, decides whether or not medical cannabis is an appropriate choice. If so, treatment is initiated and then correspondence is sent back to the referring physician,” Smith explained, and that connection among physicians ensures a higher standard of care.

“That’s clearly provided in a situation where a patient has a primary care provider, somebody who has diagnosed this individual, who has already done the necessary tests that may be appropriate, and used the first and second line medicine.

“Cannabis is not a first line medicine and should not be used first line. Cannabis used first-line is inappropriate,” he added.

For more information about the affiliate program go to cannawayclinic.com