BY VANESSA ORR While the constitu- tional amendment allow- ing the use of medical marijuana passed the Florida Legislature in 2016, there are still some kinks to be worked out, according to Sen. Gary Farmer, a Democrat who represents Florida’s Dis- trict 34. “Obviously, the imple- mentation of the legisla- tion we passed is pretty flawed, especially with regard to the lack of a provision for smoking marijuana,” he explained. “The Legislature has complete- ly disavowed and failed to adhere to the will of the 72 percent of Florida voters who approved the use of medical marijuana. “The language on the ballot clearly indicates and implies the passage of a constitutional amendment that includes smoking medical marijuana in pri- vate places, specifically because it bans smoking in public places,” he added. Last year, Sen. Farmer filed a bill to provide for smoking medical marijua- na, but the bill never received a committee hearing. However, since Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers recently ruled that qualify- ing patients have the right to use smokable medical marijuana in private places, things may soon change. According to the senator, there are no valid reasons to deny users of medical cannabis the ability to choose their deliv- ery method. “The reason given is that it is a health concern, but that is not supported by the science out there—there is little or very weak scientific evidence that smoking medical marijuana may cause lung cancer or other disease states,” he said. “Even if it did, we’re not banning ciga- rettes, cigars or tobacco products,” he con- tinued. “People should be able to choose the delivery method that works best for them, and many get more benefit from smoking medical marijuana than from using cannabis oils or edibles.” Sen. Farmer believes that there may be other factors behind the smoking ban. “It’s just sour grapes,” he said. “Conservatives did not want the constitutional amend- ment to pass because they are against legalizing medical marijuana in any shape or form, and use ‘health’ as a justification. The truth is, they just don’t want it avail- able at all, and this is one way to limit its efficacy.” Though Sen. Farmer is currently in a fight to retain his senate seat, if he wins, he plans to refile the bill soon after taking office. In the meantime, he is setting his sights on other issues concerning imple- mentation of the new law, including zon- ing laws that are causing dispensaries problems. “On the local level, municipalities and Zoning Laws, Smokable Status Just Two Issues Facing Implementation of Amendment 2 Sen. Gary Farmer Continued on page 36 CANNAMD: CannaMD Triples in Size page 36 CANNABIS SPOTLIGHT: Jose Belen Founder, President Florida Mission Zero Inc page 37 BY LOIS THOMSON Dr. Michelle Weiner, an interventional pain management doctor at Spine and Wellness Center of America, says that because she has been able to study more and learn about the benefits of using cannabis to treat her patients, her job "has become so much more satisfying." Referring to herself as being very athletic and health conscious, Dr. Weiner said she also majored in nutritional sci- ences, "So I've always been more into the holistic mindset. I'm more focused on function and quality of life, and specifi- cally on decreasing pain." Because of that, when cannabis became legal two years ago, she began to read a lot about it and the endocannabi- noid system, and thought it could pro- vide a way to take patients off of opioids and decrease pain medications. "It either gives patients a more natural alternative earlier on in the algorithm of pain man- agement; or, for the ones who are in chronic pain and have already tried physical therapy and injections and are on a lot of medications, it gives them another option to help them wean off the medications." Dr. Weiner's initial idea was to look at cannabis mainly from a pain man- agement perspective, but from her reading, she began to learn more about the other benefits that Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could offer – bene- fits dealing with wellness, anxiety, and insomnia, along with the pain management. "I saw how well my patients were feeling as I was substituting the cannabis for a lot of their pharmaceuticals, and then people would come to me to say, 'I want to get off my anti-depressant, or my sleep aid, and I hear this is another option.'" Taking her work one step further, Dr. Weiner said she began to do some research with a friend, Purnima Madhivanan, Ph.D., M.D., who is an epi- demiologist at Florida International University. They are conducting a study with their patients who use cannabis for chronic pain – if they agree, the two physicians will track them every three months and look at different outcome measures, such as anxiety, depression, sleep, quality of life, and physical func- tion. "We see how they're able to decrease their pharmaceuticals, and also how the other outcome measures are improving as they're using cannabis for the entire body, not just to treat a specific area. What ends up happening is that we're using it for one thing – for pain – and then they're saying, 'you know what, I'm actually sleeping much better or my mood has improved or I used to have irritable bowel syndrome, or migraines, and that went away also.' So they are often getting benefits they didn't initially come to me for, and a lot of them are decreasing their medication, which is great." Dr. Weiner pointed out that sometimes when you start decreasing a medication, another is needed to counteract the side effects. "Some of my patients are very, very sick. I have some with brain cancer with metastasis, I have others who have Parkinson's, or chronic pain, I have eld- erly with dementia; but then I also have someone like the 45-year-old who has anxiety and says 'I'm on Lexapro and I want to get off of it.' So I have a little bit of everything." Dr. Weiner said the cannabis plant actually has more than 100 components, and it's important to educate people about that. "The part that makes you high is called THC. The stigma has been created because people have grown a high THC strain over time and sold this as recreational marijuana. But there are ways to use marijuana and not be high, and I think people need to realize that the stigma should be changed. "For instance, I would use marijuana to help an opioid addict get off of opi- oids, because first of all, it will take away the withdrawal symptoms. It's a healthier option, instead of going to a rehab facili- ty where you'll get benzodiazepine, which is an anxiety medication that is also addictive. So you're just substituting one for another." She concluded, "Because of this, my job has become so much more satisfying. Most of my patients are so thankful either because they have another option, or because they just feel better. It's a whole different way of practicing medi- cine. It takes a lot of education, I sit with them, there are the different routes of administration. So I really get to know my patients, and that's what I love about medicine." For more information, call (305) 974-5533 or visit www.spinewellnessamerica.com. Dr. Michelle Weiner Dr. Michelle Weiner's Job – 'Much More Satisfying'
Transcript
BY VANESSA ORR
While the constitu-tional amendment allow -ing the use of medicalmarijuana passed theFlorida Legislature in2016, there are still somekinks to be worked out,according to Sen. GaryFarmer, a Democrat whorepresents Florida’s Dis -trict 34.
“Obviously, the imple-mentation of the legisla-tion we passed is prettyflawed, especially withregard to the lack of aprovision for smoking marijuana,” heexplained. “The Legislature has complete-
ly disavowed and failed toadhere to the will of the 72percent of Florida voterswho approved the use ofmedical marijuana.
“The language on theballot clearly indicates andimplies the passage of aconstitutional amendmentthat includes smokingmedical marijuana in pri-vate places, specificallybecause it bans smoking inpublic places,” he added.
Last year, Sen. Farmerfiled a bill to provide forsmoking medical marijua-na, but the bill never
received a committee hearing. However,since Leon County Circuit Court Judge
Karen Gievers recently ruled that qualify-ing patients have the right to use smokablemedical marijuana in private places, thingsmay soon change.
According to the senator, there are novalid reasons to deny users of medicalcannabis the ability to choose their deliv-ery method. “The reason given is that it isa health concern, but that is not supportedby the science out there—there is little orvery weak scientific evidence that smokingmedical marijuana may cause lung canceror other disease states,” he said.
“Even if it did, we’re not banning ciga-rettes, cigars or tobacco products,” he con-tinued. “People should be able to choosethe delivery method that works best forthem, and many get more benefit fromsmoking medical marijuana than fromusing cannabis oils or edibles.”
Sen. Farmer believes that there may beother factors behind the smoking ban. “It’sjust sour grapes,” he said. “Conservativesdid not want the constitutional amend-ment to pass because they are againstlegalizing medical marijuana in any shapeor form, and use ‘health’ as a justification.The truth is, they just don’t want it avail-able at all, and this is one way to limit itsefficacy.”
Though Sen. Farmer is currently in afight to retain his senate seat, if he wins, heplans to refile the bill soon after takingoffice. In the meantime, he is setting hissights on other issues concerning imple-mentation of the new law, including zon-ing laws that are causing dispensariesproblems.
“On the local level, municipalities and
Zoning Laws, Smokable Status Just Two Issues Facing Implementation of Amendment 2
Dr. Michelle Weiner,an interventional painmanagement doctor atSpine and WellnessCenter of America,says that because shehas been able to studymore and learn aboutthe benefits of usingcannabis to treat herpatients, her job "hasbecome so much moresatisfying." Referringto herself as being veryathletic and health conscious, Dr. Weinersaid she also majored in nutritional sci-ences, "So I've always been more into theholistic mindset. I'm more focused onfunction and quality of life, and specifi-cally on decreasing pain."
Because of that, when cannabisbecame legal two years ago, she began toread a lot about it and the endocannabi-noid system, and thought it could pro-vide a way to take patients off of opioidsand decrease pain medications. "It eithergives patients a more natural alternativeearlier on in the algorithm of pain man-agement; or, for the ones who are inchronic pain and have already triedphysical therapy and injections and are
on a lot of medications, itgives them another optionto help them wean off themedications."
Dr. Weiner's initial ideawas to look at cannabismainly from a pain man-agement perspective, butfrom her reading, shebegan to learn more aboutthe other benefits thatCannabidiol (CBD) andTetrahydrocannabino l(THC) could offer – bene-fits dealing with wellness,anxiety, and insomnia,
along with the pain management. "I sawhow well my patients were feeling as Iwas substituting the cannabis for a lot oftheir pharmaceuticals, and then peoplewould come to me to say, 'I want to getoff my anti-depressant, or my sleep aid,and I hear this is another option.'"
Taking her work one step further, Dr.Weiner said she began to do someresearch with a friend, PurnimaMadhivanan, Ph.D., M.D., who is an epi-demiologist at Florida InternationalUniversity. They are conducting a studywith their patients who use cannabis forchronic pain – if they agree, the twophysicians will track them every threemonths and look at different outcome
measures, such as anxiety, depression,sleep, quality of life, and physical func-tion.
"We see how they're able to decreasetheir pharmaceuticals, and also how theother outcome measures are improvingas they're using cannabis for the entirebody, not just to treat a specific area.What ends up happening is that we'reusing it for one thing – for pain – andthen they're saying, 'you know what, I'mactually sleeping much better or mymood has improved or I used to haveirritable bowel syndrome, or migraines,and that went away also.' So they areoften getting benefits they didn't initiallycome to me for, and a lot of them aredecreasing their medication, which isgreat."
Dr. Weiner pointed out that sometimeswhen you start decreasing a medication,another is needed to counteract the sideeffects. "Some of my patients are very,very sick. I have some with brain cancerwith metastasis, I have others who haveParkinson's, or chronic pain, I have eld-erly with dementia; but then I also havesomeone like the 45-year-old who hasanxiety and says 'I'm on Lexapro and Iwant to get off of it.' So I have a little bitof everything."
Dr. Weiner said the cannabis plantactually has more than 100 components,
and it's important to educate peopleabout that. "The part that makes youhigh is called THC. The stigma has beencreated because people have grown ahigh THC strain over time and sold thisas recreational marijuana. But there areways to use marijuana and not be high,and I think people need to realize thatthe stigma should be changed.
"For instance, I would use marijuanato help an opioid addict get off of opi-oids, because first of all, it will take awaythe withdrawal symptoms. It's a healthieroption, instead of going to a rehab facili-ty where you'll get benzodiazepine,which is an anxiety medication that isalso addictive. So you're just substitutingone for another."
She concluded, "Because of this, myjob has become so much more satisfying.Most of my patients are so thankfuleither because they have another option,or because they just feel better. It's awhole different way of practicing medi-cine. It takes a lot of education, I sit withthem, there are the different routes ofadministration. So I really get to knowmy patients, and that's what I love aboutmedicine."
For more information, call(305) 974-5533 or visit
www.spinewellnessamerica.com.
Dr. Michelle Weiner
Dr. Michelle Weiner's Job – 'Much More Satisfying'
South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com August 2018 39
Physicians
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South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com August 2018 37
Jose BelenFOUNDER, PRESIDENT, FLORIDA MISSION ZERO INC.
What benefits do you see for patients throughout Florida within this space? Well I believe we are currently/actively all involved in writing history when it comes to the
cannabis plants. There is so much momentum and attention to our space not only in Florida, butnationwide. The benefits for the patients in Florida are that their voices matter. Each patient mat-ters individually and can use either their struggles to shine light on the issue and push for changeor if there is a patient who has had a positive experience use that to help others and shepherd themthrough the process.
What motivates you to be a part of the Cannabis Industry? I am motivated to be a part of the Cannabis Industry because there is so much GOOD that comes
from it for the people. I am a defender of freedom and all that is righteous therefore I believe with all my heart everyone
should have access to medicinal cannabis. Cannabis has been around for millennia and has beennothing short of a miracle plant for mankind. The fact that greed and corruption in the early 1920/30’s (1937’s Marijuana TaxAct) led to the complete demonization of the plant and they even went so far as to use it as a way to scare white America intothinking that only “Blacks & Mexicans/Latinos” use of it makes them crazy and dangerous. They also went out of their way tocall it “Marijuana” as opposed to Cannabis which is what it has always been referenced as in an effort to demonize it more. Hereis a quote from the man I believe to be the one largely responsible for all of this - Harry Anslinger (1st Commissioner of theFederal Bureau of Narcotics, in office 1930-1962.
Anslinger said, “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind … Most marijuana smokers areNegroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage.”
Cannabis is a unifier on all levels whether it is professionally, socially, medicinally, agriculturally etc. I will fight until my lastbreath to ensure that Cannabis has been done right by the world, just like Cannabis has done right by the world since the begin-ning of time.
DispensariesIt’s a common misconception that legal marijuana dispensary insurance is very expensive and unattainable, but it is actually very reasonably priced. We can provide you with many types of comprehensive insurance coverage which will help your business stay on its feet should some type of calamity or unfortunate event arise.
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36 August 2018 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News
counties need to amend their zoning lawsto have continuity with state laws,” heexplained. “Because of the pill mill/opioidcrisis several years ago, municipalities andcities created strict zoning laws that limit-ed how close pain management clinicscould be to pharmacies. Medical marijuanadispensaries are considered in this samecategory, though these laws were notintended to apply to them.
“I’ve heard that certain dispensaries arehaving a difficult time getting approvedbecause they are too close to pharmacies;some have even entered into lease agree-ments, and then been told that they can’tget certification because of their location,”he added.
“The licensure procedure is so stringent;I don’t know of any capitalistic venturethat has had to go through so muchbureaucracy and red tape just to open,” hecontinued. “I favor the open marketapproach, and while Republicans are usu-ally for open markets, in this case, they areinsisting on the implementation of a verti-cal system that requires dispensaries tohave a lease, and have employees alreadyhired with completed background screen-
ings before they can get their final licens-es.”
While there is still much to be done onthe medicinal marijuana front, Sen.Farmer is working on the recreationalaspect as well. He plans to file a bill withinthe year supporting recreational marijua-na. “The time is long overdue,” he said.“This has been done successfully in a num-ber of states, and I believe that it can pro-vide great revenue potential for Florida,which needs new revenue sources as aresult of the lack of a state income tax, lit-tle to no manufacturing, and a sufferingcitrus industry.”
Farmer believes that both medical andrecreational marijuana can be used safelyand have medicinal value not just for pal-liative care, but for pain management.“Going back to opioids, fewer people willneed prescription drugs if the can use mar-ijuana as an alternative,” he said. “What isunfortunate is that research is so limited inthe U.S. because of our antiquated laws.When you look around world, like atJapan, you see that they’re doing moreresearch on the healing properties ofcannabis, which is safer to use than alcoholand prescription drugs.”
Continued from page 40
Zoning Laws, Smokable Status Just TwoIssues Facing Implementation ofAmendment 2
CannaMD, Florida’spremier medical marijua-na clinic, has tripled insize in less than sixmonths. Adding to itsOrlando, Tampa, andMount Dora locations,CannaMD is excited toannounce new medicaloffices now open in FortLauderdale, West PalmBeach, and Miami.
Before purchasing mar-ijuana from a medicalmarijuana treatment cen-ter (MMTC) – or dispensary – patientsmust first qualify for a medical marijuanacertification; CannaMD provides quali-fied patients with the state-required rec-ommendation to complete this process.Focused on evidence-based applicationof medicinal cannabis research,CannaMD offers a streamlined pre-quali-fication process, letting patients spendmore time with licensed physicians. “It’sabout making the process as easy as pos-sible,” CannaMD co-founder RyanScotson explains. “Marijuana as medi-cine is pretty new. So we’ve made sure wehave experts in place every step of theway, so patients never have any unan-swered questions.”
That process starts at home, where
patients can see if theyqualify for a medical mari-juana certification beforeever scheduling an appoint-ment. After a free phonecall with a patient liaison –supervised by a registerednurse – qualified applicantsmay submit all requiredpaperwork online, leavingappointment time free forquality doctor-patient con-versation.
“We take physicianrecruitment very seriously,”
Scotson states. “We’re committed toworking with leaders in the medicalcannabis field.”
One of those leaders is Dr. JasonSchultz, who is passionate about fightingthe country’s growing opioid epidemic.
“When I began practicing medicine,there was a lot of pressure to give nar-cotics no matter what. As I went throughmy medical career, it got worse andworse,” Schultz recalls. “Now I have theopportunity to help patients with a natu-ral form of medicine that produces betterresults. As a physician, it was easy tobecome an advocate.”
Appointments may be scheduledby completing a brief application or
calling (855) 420-9170.
CannaMD Triples in Size
Ryan Scotson
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South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com August 2018 35
Schyan Exploration Inc. Enters into Letter Agreement
with TrulieveSchyan Exploration Inc. announces that it has entered into a non-binding letter
agreement with George Hackney, Inc. d.b.a. Trulieve whereby the Company andTrulieve have agreed to merge their respective businesses resulting in a reversetakeover of the Company by Trulieve and change of business of the Company from amining issuer to a marijuana issuer. Concurrently with the closing on the Transactionthe resulting issuer will apply to have its shares listed on the Canadian SecuritiesExchange. Accordingly, the Transaction is subject to the approval of the CSE.
Trulieve is a vertically integrated ‘seed-to-sale’ company and is the first and largestfully licensed medical marijuana company in the state of Florida. Trulieve cultivatesand produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulievebranded stores throughout the state of Florida as well as directly to patients via homedelivery.
As a vertically integrated company with a patient-first mantra, Trulieve has devel-oped a suite of Trulieve branded products with over 80 SKUs including flower podsfor vaporizing, concentrates, topicals, capsules, tinctures, and vape cartridges.
Headquartered in Quincy, Florida, Trulieve is focused on being the brand leader forquality medical cannabis products and service in Florida and beyond. Trulieveemploys over 800 people and is committed to providing patients a consistent and wel-coming retail experience across Trulieve branded stores.
Trulieve intends to continue to focus on penetrating the Florida market with plansto open an additional 15 Trulieve branded stores by January 2019. In addition,Trulieve is focused on leveraging its manufacturing and retail expertise to expand intoother states in the United States.
For more information, visit www.trulieve.com.
Medical Marijuana Office Receives Additional
$13.3 Million in FundingBY LOIS THOMSON
It has been two years since a bill passed that implemented a constitutional amend-ment legalizing marijuana for medical purposes in Florida. But less than a monthafter the state's new fiscal budget went into effect, in which the Office of MedicalMarijuana Use received slightly less than $1 million, the office requested additionalfunding.
Representatives from the office said they delayed in making the request for theextra funds because they were still gathering information to try to determine whatunforeseen costs might be incurred, and when. The state budget requires passage byboth chambers of the Legislature, but the joint legislative budget committee is ableto make changes to it if a request is made during the year. As a result, the committeeapproved $13.3 million in additional funding for the state office regulating medicalmarijuana.
More than half of the supplemental funds are programmed for licensing four moremedical marijuana treatment centers, and reviewing the applications for those slots,which are anticipated to run into the hundreds. A portion of the money will also gotoward such actions as a universal tracking system for medical marijuana products,obtaining a vendor for patient identification card processing, and paying legal feesfor lawsuits brought against the department.
Additionally, the Department of Health, of which the Office of Medical MarijuanaUse is a part, recently granted a license to a Miami nursery, to settle ongoing litiga-tion; and also announced it was moving forward with awarding the additional licens-es after the state patient registry exceeded 100,000 patients earlier this year.
Nevertheless, state lawmakers expressed their frustration as to why the requestwas not made sooner, during the time when the budget was being put together. Rep.Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) commented that most of the costs that were outlined in therequest had been known about, or at least anticipated, for a while. Likewise, com-mittee chair Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island) expressed his concerns with thedepartment's belated move to ask for an amendment to the budget, rather thanrequest the money outright during the planning process.
The office has blamed various issues for the lack of progress in implementingcannabis for medical use, including the after effects from Hurricane Irma. In fact, theslow pace of development was so frustrating that during the legislative session earlierthis year, lawmakers made the decision to hold back nearly $2 million in salaries andbenefits for department officials until rules were implemented.
But Bradley, for one, is willing to put matters behind, saying he just wants to getthis done.
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