The first medical marijuana dispensary in the state of Florida officially opens its doors Tuesday.
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Back in 2014, the state failed to vote through the “Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2”.
Truelieve will distribute Charlotte’s Web, and other low-THC and medical cannabis strains for patients suffering from cancer, epilepsy, chronic seizures and chronic muscle spasms.
The products are manufactured in a laboratory that is part of the company’s indoor grow house at a plant nursery in nearby Quincy. “It still is illegal from a federal standpoint, although the federal government has defunding any type of prosecution of physicians who operate under the legal guidance of their state laws”, said Dr. Ken Brummel-Smith, a Trulieve doctor.
The legislature gave limited approval to medical marijuana in 2014, with many expecting it to be available early in 2015.
Knox Nursery said it’s on track to start distributing this year.
As someone who lived in the state of Florida for nearly half of his entire life, I can tell you from personal experience that the fight against marijuana prohibition has been long-fought and met with serious opposition. Although only one dispensary will be authorized to open at first, November 8 will prove to be a pivotal day for future of medical cannabis in Florida.
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Introducing low-THC marijuana to Floridians was plagued by delays involving creating new state regulations, which then led to lengthy legal challenges involving those seeking licenses. Florida’s health department granted the license ushering in a new era for patients. Another form of medical marijuana with a much higher content of THC will be sold beginning next month to people who are terminally ill. They also need to be their patient’s physician of record for at least 90 days before writing a prescription.
