Saturday, 13 September 2014

Florida Medical News In The Forefront

By Kerri Stout


Some of the biggest news in Florida is on the medial marijuana front. And, when it comes to Florida medical news, plans for developing a grow to stock dispensaries is on the front page. It is not surprising companies and individuals have started grow operations to supply the ongoing need of patients in many areas.

What is surprising, is that a Florida company is planning on building what is believed to be one of the biggest medical marijuana factories in the Nation, even before a program has been implemented. The owner of the perspective grow believes that having such a large grow will benefit patients. While this may be the case, many other States require that all product be grown on-site and that all dispensaries involved in the production and distribution of medical marijuana operate on a non-profit basis.

As Florida now has authority to distribute at least one medical marijuana strain to patients, there is a need for production. The owners of one warehouse are now looking to implement a large grow in order to fulfill this need. A question remains though as to whether such a facility will be legal either now or in the future. For, while some areas require patients grow the herb at home, others require dispensaries grow all product on site.

As the drug is not covered by insurance, many individuals can appreciate this perspective. In other States, where programs have been in existence for quite some time, homeless and low income individuals often qualify for free medicine at least once or twice a month. Even areas like Oakland, and other dispensaries in California are now required to distribute a specific amount of free product to no or low income patients per month.

Some states offer assistance programs for low income patients. Like with other assistance programs, individuals and couples are often required to submit proof of eligibility. Depending on the number of individuals in a household, income limits can vary but most are quite high in areas where cost of living often exceeds net income.

This new grow space known as GrowHealthy takes up 185 square foot of space in an old warehouse. The warehouse is located in an industrial complex in central Florida near Orlando. Whether or not there will be a dispensary on-site has yet to be determined. Laws stating that grows be done on-site and dispensaries operate on a non-profit basis exist in a number of medical marijuana states.

Even without a program yet in place, the owners repeatedly suggest that productivity will be higher than in some other states. Also, it is anticipated that through the use of automated equipment and processing as with tobacco plants that the cost will be remain lower. With Colorado and Washington paving the way for full legalization, it will be interesting to see what happens in those states which have had medical programs in place for years.

One of the biggest issues in Colorado and Washington after legalization has been how to handle existing prisoners which are in prison on minor drug charges. While private ones are now pushing for more individuals to be arrested rather than released. Many State sponsored prisons are now looking toward early release programs as a measure of allowing more space for existing prisoners with histories that are more violent than others.




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