North Bay site selected for study of medical cannabis oil for military veterans suffering PTSD

Northern Shores Pharmacy at 10 Maplewood Ave, will see the official launch an observational study which will seek to identify the optimal cannabinoid profile and therapeutic dose of medical cannabis oil for military veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The event happens at noon today and is the first of six recruitment centres, says a news release from Avail Cannabis, which will be applying for ethics approval.

Findings will be published in The Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health and be presented at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research Forum in Halifax in 2021.

"In light of COVID-19 and public health guidelines regarding social distancing, patients will participate in the study remotely via telephone or virtually through online video," says the release."The official recruitment will not commence until ethics approval for the study has been received which is anticipated to come in late September. Until that time and after the studies have concluded, the locations will remain educational resource centers for veterans and their families to receive local health care resources including, but not limited to peer support."

"After months of planning between multiple organizations, we are thrilled to finally be opening our first of six recruitment centres which are all situated within a few kilometres of Canadian Forces Bases throughout Ontario and Manitoba," says Justin Whitehall, Clinic Director of Avail Cannabis.

Whitehall and military veteran Jamie Chaplin from Midland will be onsite to launch the centre today and answer any questions that local veterans or family members may have about the upcoming study.

All of the recruitment centres are situated inside pharmacies.

Whitehall adds "The remaining recruitment centres will all be launched throughout September as we wait for the proper approvals."

Avail Cannabis Clinics opened its first medical marijuana clinic in downtown Barrie in 2018. The company also operates telemedicine and family walk-in style clinics offering select conventional and cannabis prescription services in collaboration with independently owned pharmacies throughout Ontario.

For more information visit the company's website.