Kitchissippi Times
July 9, 2015 • 3
National Access Cannabis comes to Kitchissippi Continued from page 1 The company essentially functions as a middleman between the patient and the government medical marijuana program. For the average person to access the medical cannabis program, there is a daunting amount of administrative and legal hurdles. NAC membership takes care of the complex process and allows the patient to focus on a proper diagnosis and treatment. To be considered for membership, a client needs supporting medical documents and a letter of diagnoses from a licensed physician. A practicing doctor must confirm the presence of an illness that can be treated with cannabis. These conditions range from cancer, to anxiety, to arthritis. “NAC is in a position to help people deal with pain, that’s what I suffered – physical pain, mental pain,” says Bajwa. NAC employee Brock Marcotte describes the clients they have already helped and expect to see in the future. “These are people who are using traditional pharmaceuticals and are not happy with the effects and side effects. There are also people who have been self-medicating with cannabis who know it works for them, but they are having to get it from the black market.” The key difference between
NAC staff demonstrate a vaporizer, their suggested method of cannabis use. The device releases the active chemicals in the plant without combustion, creating a healthier alternative to smoking.
black market pot and medical marijuana is that not all marijuana is the same, or even similar. Different strains of the plant have been developed to treat certain symptoms of illness. One of the key services of NAC is matching a patient with the particular strain of cannabis that will benefit their condition. Marcotte also explains that NAC imposes strict guidelines on the cannabis suppliers they
deal with, making sure members only receive product that is organically grown, with no additional chemicals and pesticides. It’s a unique business for the area and NAC has been drawing the attention of just about everyone who passes by. On opening day, more than a few heads turned to take a longer look at the storefront. Reaction from neighbours so
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far has been mixed. Uncle Bob, owner of Fab Gear 64 across the street, was on hand for the media launch to show his support for NAC. Alejandra Mathisen, owner of nearby Amanecer Fashion Boutique was mostly indifferent to the new addition.
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” she says. Susie Pearson of The Extraordinary Baby Shoppe, was apprehensive of the business concept: “It does look nice, and there are already two head shops down the street anyway, so it’s better than that.” Though several people have drawn the comparison to a traditional head shop, there are very few similarities. NAC doesn’t stock any of the bongs, pipes and papers found at Smoke Signalz, and carry only a small selection of vaporizers (similar to electronic cigarettes). NAC does not actually encourage smoking cannabis. On the afternoon of July 3, a group of NAC staff spent some time on the sidewalk, interacting with the public and handing out information about the business. According to the canvassers, the response from people on the street has been mostly supportive. They estimate about 85 to 90 per cent of people have a positive reaction to the NAC concept.
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