Smokable medical marijuana went on sale Monday at dispensaries in Orlando, but only to patients that have been given a doctor’s approval.
Derek Thompson was the first to buy the drug in its smokable from an Orlando Curaleaf dispensary, two years after voters approved medical cannabis through a constitutional amendment, several lawsuits and finally a political showdown pitting Gov. Ron DeSantis against legislators.
Thompson, a 35-year-old stay-at-home dad from Orlando, said he bought the loose-leaf flower marijuana hoping to better regulate his treatment and to save money on prescription drugs needed for his migraines, nausea and sleeplessness.
“I have three children, so the whole idea of using [only] how much I need appeals to me,” Thompson said.
As of Monday, the Florida Department of Health has given the go-ahead to two companies — Trulieve and Curaleaf — to sell smokable medical marijuana.
Trulieve was given the approval to sell smokable medical marijuana Thursday and sold its first smokable marijuana at its Tallahassee dispensary. It had it available statewide that same day, the company said. Curaleaf meanwhile made it available to Orlando patients Monday.
Before that, patients could use oils, creams, vaporizers or even injections — but not anything that could be smoked.
Dispensaries rushed to get it on shelves, anticipating high demand from customers.
<aside class="trb_ar_sponsoredmod" data-load-type="method" data-load-method="trb.vendor.nativo.init" data-withinviewport-options="bottomOffset=100&topOffset=1500" data-v-ntidm="1066262"></aside>“People have been waiting for it for quite some time,” said Vinit Patel, Curaleaf’s regional dispensary operations manager.
Patients still need new approval from state-sanctioned doctors to purchase medical marijuana, even if they had a previous prescription for other forms of it. Thompson was eager to get the smokable form, so he renewed his medical marijuana authorization card Friday.
Kimberly Chimber, a waitress at IHOP from Orlando, came to Curaleaf Monday to refill a prescription for medical marijuana. She usually uses a vape-style device and was surprised state officials had so quickly approved the smokable form. She said she uses medical marijuana to deal with PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain.
“I thought it would be July before they could get [smokable marijuana],” said Chimber, 35. “I’m going to go to my doctor tomorrow and get my prescription renewed.”
In other states with medical marijuana, smokable forms account for more than 50 percent of all sales of the drug, Patel said.
At Curaleaf, an eighth of an ounce (3.5 grams) was selling for about $47.
Medical marijuana companies anticipate a greater selection of marijuana strains with varying flavors and potencies to be available in the coming months too.
The new law also allows dispensaries to sell “delivery devices” such as pipes and bongs, once a gray area of law, said Richard Blau, a lawyer for Gray and Robinson who follows marijuana issues in Florida.
Curaleaf didn’t have pipes or other delivery devices available for sale Monday but expect to get some in stock soon.
So far about 254,000 Florida residents have registered with the state to receive medical marijuana treatment, according to the Florida Department of Health. About 197,000 have been approved to purchase medical marijuana with a prescription.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Derek Thompson was the first Orlando patient to buy smokable medical marijuana in Orlando. Trulieve in Orlando started selling the drug on Thursday.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/os-bz-smokable-medical-marijuana-on-sale-20190325-story.html
Derek Thompson was the first to buy the drug in its smokable from an Orlando Curaleaf dispensary, two years after voters approved medical cannabis through a constitutional amendment, several lawsuits and finally a political showdown pitting Gov. Ron DeSantis against legislators.
Thompson, a 35-year-old stay-at-home dad from Orlando, said he bought the loose-leaf flower marijuana hoping to better regulate his treatment and to save money on prescription drugs needed for his migraines, nausea and sleeplessness.
“I have three children, so the whole idea of using [only] how much I need appeals to me,” Thompson said.
As of Monday, the Florida Department of Health has given the go-ahead to two companies — Trulieve and Curaleaf — to sell smokable medical marijuana.
Trulieve was given the approval to sell smokable medical marijuana Thursday and sold its first smokable marijuana at its Tallahassee dispensary. It had it available statewide that same day, the company said. Curaleaf meanwhile made it available to Orlando patients Monday.
Before that, patients could use oils, creams, vaporizers or even injections — but not anything that could be smoked.
Dispensaries rushed to get it on shelves, anticipating high demand from customers.
<aside class="trb_ar_sponsoredmod" data-load-type="method" data-load-method="trb.vendor.nativo.init" data-withinviewport-options="bottomOffset=100&topOffset=1500" data-v-ntidm="1066262"></aside>“People have been waiting for it for quite some time,” said Vinit Patel, Curaleaf’s regional dispensary operations manager.
Patients still need new approval from state-sanctioned doctors to purchase medical marijuana, even if they had a previous prescription for other forms of it. Thompson was eager to get the smokable form, so he renewed his medical marijuana authorization card Friday.
Kimberly Chimber, a waitress at IHOP from Orlando, came to Curaleaf Monday to refill a prescription for medical marijuana. She usually uses a vape-style device and was surprised state officials had so quickly approved the smokable form. She said she uses medical marijuana to deal with PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain.
“I thought it would be July before they could get [smokable marijuana],” said Chimber, 35. “I’m going to go to my doctor tomorrow and get my prescription renewed.”
In other states with medical marijuana, smokable forms account for more than 50 percent of all sales of the drug, Patel said.
At Curaleaf, an eighth of an ounce (3.5 grams) was selling for about $47.
Medical marijuana companies anticipate a greater selection of marijuana strains with varying flavors and potencies to be available in the coming months too.
The new law also allows dispensaries to sell “delivery devices” such as pipes and bongs, once a gray area of law, said Richard Blau, a lawyer for Gray and Robinson who follows marijuana issues in Florida.
Curaleaf didn’t have pipes or other delivery devices available for sale Monday but expect to get some in stock soon.
So far about 254,000 Florida residents have registered with the state to receive medical marijuana treatment, according to the Florida Department of Health. About 197,000 have been approved to purchase medical marijuana with a prescription.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Derek Thompson was the first Orlando patient to buy smokable medical marijuana in Orlando. Trulieve in Orlando started selling the drug on Thursday.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/os-bz-smokable-medical-marijuana-on-sale-20190325-story.html
