Charlottetown medical marijuana wellness centre opens

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

• New service to help P.E.I. vets access medical marijuana

"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.

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.

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.

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