First entirely fee-free medical marijuana clinic to open in South Western Ontario

Access to treatment and patient education to be the focus

ST. CATHARINES, ON, Sept. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Canadian Cannabis Clinics (CCC), a new medical clinic focusing on medical marijuana as a treatment option, will open in St. Catharines on September 16, 2014 and will be the first of its kind to operate with zero patient fees.

With the recent implementation of the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR), medical marijuana has become a legitimate treatment option for many Canadians. However, most doctors with expertise in this field charge up to $400 annually for a prescription or other mandatory services.

"Medical marijuana has the potential to improve the lives of so many Canadians," said Joseph del Moral, Director of Canadian Cannabis Clinics. "But the costs being imposed by clinics specializing in this field are putting it out of reach for many. With the opening of this clinic, and future locations, we will be making medical marijuana more accessible to those patients considering it as a treatment option."

Canadian Cannabis Clinics has also partnered with Canada's leading medical marijuana resource and counselling service, CanvasRx, to educate and inform patients about medical cannabis options. Selecting strains best suited for a patient's needs, and completing the paperwork necessary to register with one of Canada's licensed medical marijuana producers can be complex, so CanvasRx provides free, in-person consultations, and an easy-to-use website (www.canvasrx.com), to help patients through all stages of the process.

St. Catharines was selected as the site for CCC's first location because it is a hub for the Niagara region. CCC has plans to open 10 more clinics across Canada in the next 12 months.

"Our mission at Canadian Cannabis Clinics is to help Canadians get the best medical care available," says Dr. Barry Waisglass, the first practicing doctor at CCC's St. Catharines location, "and by removing the costs associated with accessing medical cannabis, and providing the counselling services through CanvasRx, we believe we can deliver on that promise."

Image with caption: "Canadian Cannabis Clinics - http://www.cannabisclinics.ca/ (CNW Group/Canadian Cannabis Clinics)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140911_C8927_PHOTO_EN_42754.jpg

SOURCE: Canadian Cannabis Clinics