Charlottetown medical marijuana wellness centre opens - Action News
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PEI

Charlottetown medical marijuana wellness centre opens

P.E.I.'s first Marijuana Trauma Wellness Centre officially opened Wednesday in Charlottetown. The centre helps military veterans with information and coaching on how to use marijuana for medical benefits.

'We make sure you have not slipped through the cracks somewhere in the system'

Marijuana Trauma Wellness Centre will help military veterans access and use medical marijuana. (Stephanie Kelly/CBC)

P.E.I. military veterans now have a place to get medical marijuana advice and assistance after the Island's first Marijuana Trauma Wellness Centre officially opened Wednesday in Charlottetown.

I've got my life back.- Jim Grant

"The main goal is to have a safe place for vets. First and foremost, that is what we do," said Dennis MacKenzie, the volunteer head of the P.E.I. branch of Marijuana for Trauma Inc., a national not-for-profit organization.

"We make sure you have not slipped through the cracks somewhere in the system. Whether you're a client of ours or not, we just try and help everybody."

Cannabis coaching

The centre is not a medical marijuana dispensary, and doesn't sell or give marijuana.

Dennis MacKenzie, the volunteer head of the P.E.I. branch of Marijuana for Trauma Inc., says the new centre is to provide a safe place and information for military veterans on how to use and access medical marijuana. (Stephanie Kelly/CBC)

Instead, MacKenzie explained some of the services offered include providing information or "cannabis coaching" on the the different methods of consuming cannabis, such as taking capsule or vaping, and how different strains of cannabis strain can help someone.

"It's not just about getting somebody cannabis. It's about showing you what to do with cannabis and treat it as a medicine and not as a recreational drug," said MacKenzie, who served with the Canadian military in Afghanistan.

'I got my life back'

Also at Wednesday's opening was Jim Grant a retired member of the Canadian Navy.

Since he started taking medical marijuana, Jim Grant says he has been able to sleep better and has become more active by playing golf. (Jean-Luc Bouchard/Radio-Canada)

Grant has chronic pain from arthritis in three places on his spine and bone spurs. He also suffers from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Since he started taking medical marijuana, he has been able to sleep better and has become more active by playing golf.

"I've got my life back," he said.

The centre is located in theKirkwood Mews strip mall on University Avenue.

With files from Stephanie Kelly and Jean-Luc Bouchard