TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened early Monday in the state Capitol without fanfare. The opening follows the first delivery of low-dose THC over the weekend to a Pasco County man.
Six growers are authorized to deliver their products anywhere in Florida. The Florida Department of Health did not respond to our email asking how many people are qualified to receive low-dose THC. When the program expands in August, as many as 700,000 people are expected to qualify for its use.
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Trulieve opened it’s doors at 8 a.m. Monday -- a day early. Reporter Mike Vasilinda was met at the door by Frank Feliciano.
”How many patients have you seen so far?” Vasilinda asked.
”None so far,” Feliciano said.
"Just a couple of inquires?"
“Yep, people inquiring.”
One of the curious was retired Army veteran Carey Carpenter.
“Do you anticipate going to a doctor?” Vasilinda asked him.
"Yeah, I’m a veteran," Carpenter said. "I did two years in Iraq, and the way the system is going now, they’re trying to make CBD legal for veterans. (I'm) trying to get off prescription medication, so just trying to see what my options are.”
Over the weekend, Trulieve delivered the first low-dose THC to a Pasco County man who suffers from a Parkinson’s-like disease.
Trulieve’s medical director first agreed to talk with us, and then said he couldn’t.
To receive the low-dose THC, patients must have it ordered by a qualified doctor. So far, just 81 doctors across Florida have completed the eight-hour course.
Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers told us last week the products are tightly controlled.
“There’s very specific -- we have to track every product from seed to sale,” Rivers said.
The company expects to begin offering high-dose THC products for terminally ill patients in August. A recommendation from two doctors is required for high-dose THC.