The Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers of Florida visited the Waterfront Inn at Lake Sumter Landing on Wednesday morning to educate attendees during its Medical Marijuana Awareness Day program.
Thorough presentations from doctors and medical marijuana experts highlighted the event.
Mental health professional Josephine Krehl educated the audience on what medical marijuana exactly is, the stigmas surrounding it and how it serves patients better than prescribed opiates.
Instead of having as many as 10 different medications for one problem, medical marijuana could be the one remedy to several problems. It which a concept that was advocated for at the event.
Chief Marketing Officer of MMTC Turner Davis advised the audience on how to obtain a state medical marijuana card and qualifications that should be met.
Steps that interested patients should take are:
• Undergo a physical exam
• Have a complete review of your medical history
• Have the physician diagnose the patient with one of the qualifying conditions
• Enter the patient into the registry
• and finally the order.
Patients no longer have to wait 90 days for a card, but rather three to four weeks.
A few of the conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment are cancer, HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder and glaucoma.
Davis explained to the audience that even if they have a condition that is not listed, similar symptoms to listed qualifying conditions may allow interested patients to receive treatment.
Many people in the audience questioned the possibility of physicians, practicing in The Villages, recommending medical marijuana for patients.
“He can, if he decides to…They [physicians] have to be willing to do it,” answered Davis to the question. If the physician decides to recommend medical marijuana, they must receive certification after training.
Three dispensaries – Knox Medical, Trulieve and Surterra – gave presentations on their products as well during the vendor fair segment of the day. Chief Information Officer of MMTC Cameron Vance gave his presentation on how medical marijuana is applied to patients.
Seventy-one percent of Florida citizens voted in favor of Amendment 2 that legalizes medical marijuana this past November.
This past Monday, lawmakers finally sent a formal bill to Gov. Rick Scott to be signed. Florida health officials have until July 3 to develop guidelines for the amendment. MMTC vowed to continue to offer education on the constantly changing rules.
MMTC opened a dispensary earlier this month in Baylee Plaza in Summerfield.
