Hello Reddit!

We are Marijuana for Trauma! Founded in New Brunswick, with locations across Canada, Marijuana for Trauma Inc. is a veteran owned and operated company whose mission is to improve the quality of life for anyone suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic pain and/or other medical conditions. Tonight, to answer your questions, we have Jean-Guy, Francois, George, Riley, and Eldon.


Jean-Guy Bourguignon is currently the National Operational Manager for Marijuana for Trauma. In the last 25 years, he has gained experience in both business and government. Jean-Guy has experience in management and senior management of governmental operational levels managing high risk situations, multi-million dollar budgetary requirements & human resources at capacities of over 200 employees. In the last decade of government, he has been involved in the investigation field, teaching across Ontario, public speaking to groups of over 300, managing multi-million & billion dollar projects as it pertains to health and safety requirements from small to very large stake holder projects.

While in business, his 25 years ranged from owning and operating a retail store, managing and owning services industry operations, property ownership, rental and property management.


Francois Hallé, is a medical doctor with a very strong background in epidemiology, quantitative and qualitative research, behavioral sciences, psychiatry and cannabinoids and their mode of action (MOA). He is currently the National Medical-Science Liaison and Clinical Coordinator at Marijuana for Trauma. Before that, from September 2013 until March 2016, he worked as a medical-science adviser and paralegal consultant for various agencies and managed his own consulting firm in the Ottawa region.

From July 2011 till June 2013, he was a resident in preventative medicine and public health at Laval University from 2008 to 2011 he was a professor at the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) school of nursing, where he was responsible for the Pathophysiology courses and Obstetric and Gynecology and Pediatric clinical sciences courses at the master’s level.

He has also developed and gave more than 450 conferences in preventative medicine for Sentinelle Health Group, RPI and MCO. These conferences were given to multiple government agencies across Canada between 2009 and 2011. As part of his involvement with Sentinelle Health Group, I helped design and develop the educational package for 3 of their newly released products in 2010. From 2008 to 2010, he was an associate director at the Marketed Health Product Directorate (MHPD) at Health Canada where he was responsible of the pharmacovigilance and risk to benefit ratio analysis of marketed health products. Before my involvement with MHPD in 2008, he worked at the Ottawa Health Research Institute (OHRI) as a clinical research coordinator where he had the opportunity take part in clinical research in thrombosis.


Riley McGee is currently the Western Canada Director of Operations for Marijuana for Trauma Inc, which specializes in serving the medical needs of Canadian Veterans and civilians diagnosed with PTSD. MFT’s “Plants not pills” motto expresses properly its belief that medical marijuana is a more appropriate treatment than traditional prescription drug cocktails, which often create harmful side effects.

Riley served with the Canadian Forces from Feb 2, 2000 to April 19, 2007. As a Combat Engineer with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, he was responsible for the planning and execution of multiple complex camp deployments; both permanent and temporary with very challenging logistics across Canada and overseas. After a rigorous selection process, Riley received specialty training as a Combat Diver in 2004 and was hand-selected for Op Archer serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan July 24, 2005 to March 5, 2006 with the Provincial Construction Team at Camp Nathan Smith as a member of the Engineer Section.

He began his real estate training upon returning from overseas and was a licensed realtor by May 2006, making my first commercial purchase in December -. a four-unit apartment building. Riley was honourably discharged from the Canadian Forces April 19, 2007 and began selling real estate, earning the President’s Gold Award 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015 Directors’ Platinum Award 2009, 2011 and Sales Achievement Award 2011 and 2012.


George Myatte is a 32-year Veteran of the Canadian Forces. He served during the Cold War, the Gulf War and the Bosnian. George is currently the Ambassador of the Memory based in London, Ontario as a public speaker, as well as a volunteer at the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum in London, Ontario through providing education to the public about the Royal Canadian Regiment.

He has received the Governor General's Unit Commendation for opening the Airport in Sarajevo as part of UNPROFOR (United Nation Protection Force), as well as the Chief of Defence Staff Award for Volunteerism and launching campaign to remember troops in Afghanistan. For his time spent in the community, George has also received the Ontario Government 5-year volunteer award. He is currently the IC of the Marijuana for Trauma located in Strathroy, Ontario.


Eldon Bennett started out after graduation in a sales manager role for Tip Top Tailors. After 18 years, he decided to go back to college and complete his Human Resources and Payroll Course. Eldon decided to have a bit of an adventure and took a Store Manager and Operations position with Northern which is isolation in the north.

Eldon has 2 sons in the military, one being in for 2 years now as a heavy equipment mechanic. His elder son served for 8 years and had some issues which caused PTSD and related illnesses. Since becoming a client with Marijuana for Trauma, Eldon’s son is now a different person - more relaxed, can socialize, no more suicidal thoughts, and the anger has mostly gone away.

After returning to Sydney, Nova Scotia last year he met Mike Southwell, a Marijuana for Trauma Owner, who gave him a huge opportunity to come aboard as a team member with Marijuana for Trauma. Eldon was recently promoted to area operations for Atlantic Canada. Eldon feels that this has been the most rewarding thing he has ever done. He enjoys being able to help others with his work as others have helped his son.


Proof : http://imgur.com/a/Nywl5

https://www.facebook.com/Marijuana-for-Trauma-Inc-447354378709859/timeline/


EDIT: Thank you so much everyone! It was great answering your questions. Please feel free to keep asking and we will try to keep answering your questions over the next couple of days.

Feel free to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Comments: 42 • Responses: 7  • Date: 

Realwomprat6 karma

[deleted]

MFTOfficial-29 karma

Jean-Guy: We are medical cannabis professionals in the sense that our staff and our organization are professional and educated in the services we provide. Our staff have knowledge, training and experience in medical cannabis. We will always be on the medical marijuana side with licensed producers and the regulated system under Health Canada.

Francois: The people at MFT don’t just provide access to medical marijuana. They provide the education, support, counselling, and peer networks that help veterans, first responders, police and other sufferers move forward. And we continue to evolve our program, MFT’s vision to gradually incorporate allied health services, including psychologists, social workers, oxygen therapy, RMT's and others. The result will be an integrated and responsive approach, ensuring that MFT offers state of the art PTSD treatment for our clients and their families.

gusmoreno155 karma

Can Marihuana help with depression?

MFTOfficial4 karma

Francois: Depending on the terpene profile of the medical marijuana, yes it can.

Depression is not a lack of happiness. It prevents you from sleeping, and you are always anxious.

In some instances, it has been shown to increase the depressive symptoms. It wasn't shown whether or not it was caused by pre-existing medical condition, but there is an associated risk. A good sativa strain with Limonene as the main terpene present will help with anxiety symptoms during the day and good indica with Linalool as the main terpene present will help with a good nights sleep.

RoachG215 karma

As a veteran with ptsd I smoke occasionally, but I also work for the government....anyway around this?

MFTOfficial0 karma

Francois: With strains that have the correct terpene profile, there should be no impairment visible to coworkers. As with all medications there is a trial and error period to determine what will work best for each patient.

With proper patient education, edibles should be discussed as they have longer lasting relief without smells and stigmas associated with dried cannabis use.

Jean-Guy: Unless otherwise advised by a medical profession, I would personally not disclose. Unless you are in a cannabis friendly workplace, you risk losing your job.

noshore4me2 karma

Who do you think will win the cup this year?

MFTOfficial7 karma

Jean-Guy: Ottawa Senators

Eldon: Montreal Canadians

Riley: Edmonton Oilers

Francois: LA Kings

situation-normal2 karma

Have you found marijuana to be effective in treating anxiety and depression outside of PTSD?

Does VAC ever approve coverage for chronic pain with concurrent mental health issues or is their coverage only for those diagnosed with an OSI?

MFTOfficial3 karma

Francois: To treat chronic pain with higher CBD or 1:1 as edibles, for longer lasting relief throughout the day. It is important to keep your vaporizer handy, to vaporize to treat immediate symptoms.

Medical marijuana is not itself a cure for PTSD, chronic pain, or any other debilitating medical conditions. But we are seeing it help patient after patient with their symptoms and quality of life. People who were unable to function are leading productive lives again. They are repairing relationships with their families. They are back in the workplace. They are able to exercise and look after other aspects of their health. And they are able to benefit from counselling and wellness programs that take them further down the road to good health.

Riley: Only if the chronic pain is a result of an OSI or an injury associated with your service or medical release will VAC cover your prescription. Many MFT Veterans and civilian clients use cannabis to treat both PTSD and chronic pain.

Ben_Thar2 karma

Do CBD oils like Truvape have all the ingredients and health benefits that you would get from regular marijuana?

MFTOfficial2 karma

Francois: If they are from Licensed Producers absolutely. The current methods of extractions will take all components of the plant, decarboxylate it (activate them), then take the whole product and extract all (most) of the active cannabinoids and Terpenes and have them solubilised in the oil form.

muay30-7 karma

what is the difference between you guys and any other Cannabis dispensary? It's like you expect people to give you money, just because you are veterans giving a sob story. Such a weak business model.

MFTOfficial4 karma

Francois: As many of you here today already know, there is nothing more challenging and heartbreaking than watching patients struggle unsuccessfully with debilitating and chronic health problems.

For physicians, helping these patients is often a race against time. We know that the longer a person is withdrawn from productive daily life, on sick leave, or disengaged from their families, the harder it is to get them back. One disease often becomes multiple diseases. PTSD and chronic pain are two of the most challenging conditions to treat. Because there is no standard, effective treatment protocol and one size never fits all.

While both conditions are prevalent throughout the general population, PTSD in particular is problem in our military, police, and first responder communities. The latter group – first responders ­­- was in the news for all the wrong reasons just recently. Global News reported just a couple of months ago that two more of Canada’s first responders killed themselves in that previous week, bringing the total number of suicides by Canadian paramedics, firefighters, police officers, dispatchers and prison staff to 13 in roughly ten weeks – more than one a week!

While we are finally talking more openly about it, many of the people who serve Canadians in the most dangerous of situations have been suffering silently for decades.

Medical marijuana is not itself a cure for PTSD, chronic pain, or any other conditions. But we are seeing it help patient after patient with their symptoms and quality of life. People who were unable to function are leading productive lives again. They are repairing relationships with their families. They are back in the workplace. They are able to exercise and look after other aspects of their health. And they are able to benefit from counselling and wellness programs that take them further down the road to good health.

The people at MFT don’t just provide access to medical marijuana. They provide the education, support, counselling, and peer networks that help veterans, first responders, police and other sufferers move forward. And we continue to evolve our program, MFT’s vision to gradually incorporate allied health services, including psychologists, social workers, oxygen therapy, RMT's and others. The result will be an integrated and responsive approach, ensuring that MFT offers state of the art PTSD treatment for our clients and their families.

The University of Georgia recently released a major study on the impact of medical marijuana on health care costs in the US. They examined 10 conditions which can be treated with medical marijuana in the 17 states which have legalized the therapies. They found that for each of those 10 conditions (with the exception of glaucoma), Medicare prescription drug costs went down in a significant way. Those States saved $165.2 million in Medicare drug costs in 2013 alone. The study estimates that if all 50 states legalized medical marijuana, the US would save over $486 million in prescription drug costs every year. At MFT, we are providing access to effective therapies and at the same time supporting patients in ways that conventional healthcare providers aren’t necessarily able.

Your local family doctor doesn’t have time to help you fill out pension benefit forms or navigate the maze of health care benefits.

Your GP or psychiatrist does not necessarily offer peer support networks or connect you with other people suffering the same conditions and trying the same therapies. MFT provides an exceptional a patient-centered care model that recognizes that no single drug or pharmaceutical provides the answer. This company is creating a Canada-wide community where people with similar challenges can pursue wellness together.

That is the difference between MFT and any other Cannabis dispensary!