CannTrust Inc. Introduces CannTrust Access - A Patient Assistance Program For Medical Cannabis Use in Canada

Qualified patients to receive up to 30 grams of medical cannabis per month at no cost

VAUGHAN, ON, Feb. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - CannTrust Inc., a licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis in Canada, today announced CannTrust Access, a comprehensive patient assistance program for medical cannabis compassionate use in Canada.

The CannTrust Access program is a Canadian first in medical cannabis programs and is available immediately to eligible Canadians whose health plans do not reimburse medical cannabis.

To enrol, a patient must have a signed CannTrust medical form from their physician, the required qualifying documents listed at canntrust.ca, a letter from their physician indicating a need for financial assistance to access medical cannabis, and proof of their financial status (Revenue Canada Notice of Assessment).  

Qualified patients will be eligible for up to 30 grams of medical marijuana per month.  Three levels of financial assistance are available through the CannTrust Access program depending on the patient's income status, which will be reassessed every six months.  CannTrust anticipates that a number of patients' financial status will qualify them to receive their monthly order at no cost.  A patient is obliged to notify CannTrust if their status changes in any manner.

"Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are commonly used within the pharmaceutical industry as a financial support tool for patients in need of access to medications for their illnesses," states Norman Paul, Chairman of CannTrust.  "As a company founded on the principles of patient access, CannTrust took the bold step of creating the innovative CannTrust Access program with a goal of offering broad access to medical cannabis for patients in need."

Paul added that his company believes that having a limited income should not marginalize a person's access to medicines they need and that CannTrust is committed to helping make its medical cannabis available where and when it is needed most.  "Just like pharmaceutical medicines, affordability of medical cannabis shouldn't be a major barrier to access in Canada", said Paul.

"Cancer can be expensive to treat and manage," concludes Jackie Manthorne, President and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN).  "The introduction of CannTrust Access is a real benefit to many cancer patients in need of financial assistance who need medical cannabis to control their pain and other symptoms."

CannTrust is currently offering hydroponically grown pharmaceutical-grade cannabis to patients who provide the required medical document completed by their physician. The medical document is available at canntrust.ca or by calling 1-855-RX4-CANN (794-2266).  CannTrust provides safe and secure delivery of its products directly to the patient's home using its automated packaging technology, and best practices methodology to ensure all orders are tracked every step of the way.

About CannTrust Inc.

CannTrust Inc. is Canada's only pharmacist-controlled and operated producer of medical cannabis. Federally licensed and regulated, CannTrust brings more than 40 years of pharmacy and healthcare experience to the medical cannabis industry.

Based in Vaughan, Ontario, CannTrust's 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art hydroponic facility employs strict quality control procedures allowing for the continuous production and harvest of pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis for patients.

CannTrust is committed to research and innovation and to contributing to the growing body of evidence-based research on the use and efficacy of medical cannabis.

The company supports ongoing patient education about medical cannabis across Canada through partnerships with a variety of patient and physician-based organizations, and provides CannTrust Access, a patient assistance program to support patients with financial needs.

For more information, visit canntrust.ca or call 1-855-RX4-CANN (794-2266).

SOURCE CannTrust Inc.

Tova Manett, [email protected], 647-872-2300