Modern Cannabis
Things to know about medical marijuana in Florida
In November 2016, Florida residents passed an amendment to the state constitution allowing for the use of marijuana in treating a variety of illnesses, diseases and chronic conditions. Over the next several months, the Florida legislature passed measures to implement and regulate medical marijuana, including the requirement of patients to be certified by a qualified physician for the use of this “miracle medicine.” Once a patient becomes approved by a physician, they can obtain medical marijuana through a state-licensed dispensary.
Liberate Physician Centers is Florida’s first medical marijuana business, having opened its doors in 2015, for the purpose of providing physician certifications and managing the process for patients to legally obtain medical cannabis. Today, Liberate has offices in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Naples, Port Charlotte and West Palm Beach, with plans for further expansion throughout 2018 and beyond.
“I founded Liberate because I strongly believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of marijuana,” says Daniel J. Reid, chief executive officer. “Over the past two decades, some 30 states have allowed for medical-marijuana use to treat a broad range of diseases, and now over 200 million Americans live in a state that provides access. While each state program is quite different, the one commonality is that all 30 states require a patient to be certified by a physician.”
MISSION STATEMENT
Reid points to the Liberate Mission Statement to further explain the company’s operations. Liberate Physician Management is dedicated to helping people with chronic illness and debilitating medical conditions to have access to physicians that provide required patient certifications in every state with a medical-marijuana program.
We enable physicians and entrepreneurs to assist patients in need of medical-marijuana therapy using the highest standard of care and by providing a range of operating, marketing, training and related services to physician offices throughout the United States under the Liberate Physician Centers brand.
We believe medical marijuana is a highly effective therapy for many illnesses and conditions. We support safe access, increased scientific research, and the sanctity of the doctorpatient relationship, and operate with the highest degree of professionalism, expertise and business ethics.
CAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA HELP YOU?
Florida’s marijuana law covers cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, terminal illness, chronic nonmalignant pain, and medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those listed above.
“Our mantra is “Get Legal, Get Started and Get Help,” says Reid. “Our services go beyond the physician certification and include all the administrative steps that, without our help, might overwhelm a typical patient.”
This category allows doctors to certify patients who have symptoms or medical conditions that are both debilitating and similar in nature to the medical conditions that are explicitly named in the law.
Prospective patients interested in learning more about Liberate’s process, services and locations, including Fort Myers and Naples, can visit liberategulfcoast.com.