It’s been a long time coming, but medical marijuana is finally making its way to sick patients in the Sunshine State.
It’s been a while since Gov. Rick Scott signed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act into law, but two years later, medical marijuana dispensaries are bringing the drug to patients across the state at last.
One of the most special deliveries will happen Thursday.
On that day, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Fort Walton Beach, will be making the first delivery in Northwest Florida to a yet-disclosed patient.
The delivery is a full circle to the nearly three-year fight to legalize medical cannabis Gaetz championed, warming hearts and opening legislators to the possibility of much-needed relief for suffering patients in Florida.
The fight for medical marijuana started in the halls of the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee in 2014. Two state representatives, Gaetz, and Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, made the passionate case for legalizing a low-THC strain of medical marijuana for those suffering with epilepsy.
Two years ago, state lawmakers passed the first version of the bill to legalize medical pot. Earlier this year, the state legislature expanded the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act to include terminally ill patients.
Surterra Therapeutics, the first licensed cannabis farm in Florida, will be the company to deliver legal therapeutic cannabis products to their first patient in the Northwest Florida region.
Alpha Surterra received one of the five coveted licenses to dispense medical marijuana in Florida.
In January, Surterra requested authorization to begin cultivating marijuana from the Florida Department of Health. Once their request was approved, they had 210 days to make medical marijuana products available to patients.
“We’re true believers of the potential of therapeutic marijuana, delivered in a very professional way,” said Susan Driscoll, president of Alpha Surterra. “We believe we can do this in a way people feel very comfortable and safe with a consistent product.”
The first Florida patient received medical marijuana in Pasco County last month.
Dispensaries could become big businesses as the industry expands. Amendment 2, which would legalize medical marijuana for patients with “debilitating” medical conditions, would certainly amplify the number of orders dispensaries would process.
“Amendment 2, from our perspective, the primary benefit is it expands the number of conditions [for patients,]” said Kim Rivers, CEO of another Florida-based medical marijuana dispensary Truelieve. “It is still very specific to medical conditions. It's not full legalization of marijuana for anyone, anywhere. It will be a very regulated industry in the state.”
Polling has suggested voters overwhelmingly support the amendment, which they will vote on in November.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
