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Aleafia launches new opiate-replacement program; hits the gas on 1,000-patient opioid-reduction study.

TORONTO, April 4, 2018 /CNW/ - Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX-V-ALEF) announced that it launched a new opiate replacement program across its 23 Aleafia/Canabo clinic network.

As the opioid health-crisis continues across North America, Aleafia believes that its new initiative puts it ahead of the curve in the battle against this life-destroying epidemic.

In light of new studies released by the American Medical Association that suggest cannabis may play a role in reducing some patients' need for opioids, Aleafia's opiate-replacement program is designed to:

• Increase the pace of Aleafia's previously announced 1,000-patient study on the use of medical cannabis to reduce opioid addiction,
• Conduct extensive outreach to local and regional patients and physicians announcing Aleafia/Canabo program to substitute opioids with medical cannabis, and
• Boost clinic education initiatives about the potential positive outcomes of replacing opioids with medical cannabis within Aleafia's patient-focused, physician-led and research-based environment. 

"While the problem of chronic opiate use is now well-identified, more work is needed to find solutions," said Aleafia director, Dr. Michael Verbora. "Initial data from our opiate research study shows promise that cannabinoids can replace some—or all—of a patient's opiate prescription when being used for chronic, non-cancer pain. We are keen to continue helping the millions of Canadians on opiates to consider replacing with cannabinoid therapy."

Aleafia believes that it is uniquely positioned to have a meaningful role in the battle against opioids, which killed an estimated 4,000 Canadians in 2017, and kills an estimated 90 Americans per day. With a 40,000-strong physician-referred patient-base, and up to 1,500 additional patients joining the clinic network each month, Aleafia has the capacity to conduct large-scale studies on opioid reduction, as well as be a force for good in the education of medical practitioners across the country.

"From the very beginning, our goal at Aleafia was to provide evidence-based support for patients and their caregivers by introducing an effective alternative to the dangerous opioid option," added Aleafia's Executive Chairman, the Honourable Julian Fantino. "Today, we are ably positioned to make a meaningful difference with a large team of cannabinoid medicine experts, an established, cross-country clinic infrastructure, a much-sought-after, lucrative observational database, and an ambitious plan to grow our knowledge into more targeted, effective strains of medical cannabis for our patients."

About Aleafia Health Inc.:
Aleafia Health Inc. is one of Canada's leading, vertically integrated medical cannabis company with a unique patient-focused, medical cannabis healthcare solution. Led by a distinguished and experienced corporate leadership team, Aleafia Health Inc. is pioneering a patient-centric experience that includes personalized services before, during and after treatment. Aleafia's 23 cannabis clinics are staffed by licensed, practicing physicians with more than 80 trained physicians. Aleafia Health Inc. has realized sustained patient acquisition growth and retention, underscoring the success of Canada's first "patient-centric" cannabis-based health network. For more information, please visit www.aleafiainc.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Aleafia's current expectations.  When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information.  The forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes information relating to the implementation of Aleafia Health's business plan.  Such statements and information reflect the current view of Aleafia with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

Although Aleafia believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information or statements contained in this press release. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Aleafia does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is contained or referenced herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward looking information and statements attributable to Aleafia or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. 

SOURCE Aleafia Inc.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2018/04/c6320.html