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Lafayette’s 1st medical marijuana health clinic opens Oct. 1

Posted at 11:16 AM, Sep 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-25 23:48:15-04

The staff of Total Health Clinic invites the public to its grand opening of Lafayette’s first medical marijuana health clinic Oct. 1.

Total Health Clinic founded by Dr. Chad and Isabella Rossitter is located at 610 Guilbeau Road. The grand opening starts at 5 pm with hors-d’oeuvres and drinks.

“I’ve lost family members to the opioid crisis,” said Dr. Chad Rossitter.  “There is a real need out there for people to get help. Lots of addictions happen because people are in pain. This is a safe, legal way for people to get help for lots of conditions and I want people to know they don’t have to suffer. Some alternatives are not addictive like opioids and help just as much if not more.”

Louisiana recognizes 14 conditions as approved for treatment with medical marijuana, among them cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, and PTSD. It is sold in the form of pills, tinctures, and oromucosal sprays.

Total Health Clinic is now accepting patients who have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition and are interested in being evaluated for medical marijuana.

“It’s heartbreaking because you see people and they have tried all of these other alternative therapies and a lot of times it doesn’t help,” said co-owner and wife of Dr. Rossitter, Isabella  Rossitter. “So for us to be able to recommend medical marijuana and these patients finally get the relief and it restores hope in the patients.”

Patients will be seen by Dr. Chad Rossitter who will complete an in-depth assessment to determine whether the patient will find significant relief using medicinal cannabis. Dr. Rossitter, who is double Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, has completed the necessary steps to recommend therapeutic marijuana to eligible patients. He will use the appointment time to explain the benefits of using a natural form of therapy, as opposed to conventional treatment methods.

Once they’ve received a recommendation, patients can then take it to the pharmacy, where the drug will be given at the proper dosage.

Click here for more information.

The clinic is already open for appointments, but Lafayette’s pharmacy doesn’t open until mid-November.

The Apothecary Shoppe is going to be located right next door, it’s one of only nine licensed medical marijuana pharmacies in the state and the only one in Acadiana.

Patients who get a recommendation from a licensed physician at the clinic, can wait until it opens or drive to one of the other pharmacies in the state.