Florida’s First Two Dispensaries Are Opening This Week

The Florida Department of Health has authorized two medical marijuana dispensaries to begin processing and distributing low percentage THC medical marijuana. Trulieve and Hackney Nursery are the first to receive distribution and processing authorizations. Distributors are prepared to begin delivery to dispensaries.

Sales are expected to begin in Tallahassee on July 27th, according to 7 News Miami. The medical marijuana program in Florida has taken over two years to get its feet off the ground due to delays administratively and legally. With the appropriate staff in place, the program was able to move forward with licensing businesses, screening business ownership applications and legislation to ensure that the proper practices are being utilized.

Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve said, “There has been a great responsibility and pressure to get this done as quickly as possible. Patients have waited long enough. The most important thing is to be able to have it available for patients who have a dire need for it.”

In Florida, patients must speak with a prescribing physician for a medical marijuana prescription. There are only 15 physicians enrolled in Florida’s registry that will recommend or prescribe medical marijuana. Patients with epilepsy, severe spasm disorders, seizures and cancer are eligible with a proper recommendation.

The medical marijuana products expected to be available are vape cartridges, tinctures, concentrates/oils and gel capsules. The products must test low in THC percentage. The CBD (cannabidiol) must have a high percentage.

Patients awaiting higher THC containing products only have about another month to wait. Those products are expected to be ready by the end of August.

Actual medical marijuana flower may be a possibility for Florida medical marijuana patients following a vote in November’s election on a proposal to legalize medical marijuana fully.