Releaf Clinics Bentleigh store set to open with more on the way, say founders
Releaf Clinics, specialising in medicinal cannabis, has flagged plans to open a dispensary in Bentleigh following the success of its first clinic opened in St Kilda in February.
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Bentleigh will be home to one of Melbourne’s first medicinal cannabis dispensaries, providing relief for conditions ranging from chronic pain to anxiety.
Releaf Clinics, to be located in the Centre Rd shopping strip, will be the second dispensary for business partners Scott McDonald and Gary Mackenzie following the opening of their flagship St Kilda clinic, Melbourne’s first cannabis dispensary, in February.
State parliament passed legislation in 2016 legalising medicinal cannabis use in Victoria and Mr McDonald said his family had first-hand experience of the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD).
His children, twins Justin and Sarah, 26, used CBD oil to help with their cerebral palsy.
Justin no longer suffered mood swings related to his condition as a result, Mr McDonald said, while Sarah was able to stand and walk short distances without relying on her wheelchair.
“We’ve given 300 patients their medicinal cannabis prescription (since we opened),” Mr McDonald said.
“Our business model was to be a one-stop shop where they could come in and see a doctor or see a doctor over telehealth and get a prescription and take it to the pharmacy.”
An onsite pharmacist filled prescriptions authorised by specially trained on-site general practitioners, Mr McDonald said, and he stressed the medicine wasn’t able to make anyone “high”.
Knowledge was growing about the treatment potential for CBD, he said.
As a retired United States air force member, he said he was particularly excited about a study exploring CBD treatment for Australian Defence Force veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.
Cancer survivor Mr Mackenzie said he used CBD oil three years ago and he preferred it as a “safer” non-addictive pain management option.
Studies had shown promising results for a variety of other conditions ranging from Parkinson’s disease to severe epilepsy and anxiety, he said, and society was generally very open to exploring the use of medicinal cannabis.
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“I think it’s a whole new area of medicine that the consumers are driving rather than the industry so much,” Mr Mackenzie said.
“We’re really just the same as any other kind of integrated medical centre. We’re a normal medical centre but we specialise in medicinal cannabis.”
Releaf Clinics plan to open its Bentleigh dispensary within the next month and hope to have 12 stores up and running by next March.
Check the Releaf Clinics website for updates and more information about its services.