Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
AN EDUCATION IN POT
Clinics guide potential patients through medical marijuana regulations
His back pain was so bad that Ivan Field was taking four Advil every time he wanted to play a round of golf. “I have herniated disks. I was taking opioids and getting epidurals,” he said.
Field moved from New York to California where medical marijuana — and now recreational — is legal. In 2016, he saw a business opportunity in Florida with the state’s legalization for certain medical purposes.
Today, his team at Marijuana Doctor are educating other patients about medical marijuana. The company has 15 clinic locations in the state, including eight in South Florida, with plans to expand to 30 locations throughout the next six months.
“I had an opportunity to get into an industry on the ground floor. It was exciting for me,” said Field, who also runs a food distribution company in New York.
Medical marijuana evaluation clinics are growing in South Florida, some even snagging venture capital investment.
Florida Department of Health spokesman Brad Dalton said the department doesn’t track the number of clinics, but regulates all treatment centers and licensed practitioners. Physicians are required to take a course and pass an exam to authorize medical marijuana and enroll patients in Florida’s medical marijuana registry, which currently has more than 100,000 patients.
The internet is splattered with ads and sites promising “same-day” cards and “free assessments.” Consumers should make sure their physician has an active license in Florida and is qualified to authorize medical marijuana, experts say. They also should be wary of clinics that require too many visits or pile on additional costs.
Darren Roberts, cofounder of cannabis social networking site High There! based in Boca Raton, said many of his 12,000 members in Florida still seem confused about which conditions qualify under state law, and where to find a doctor who can authorize them for a state medical marijuana card.
According to the Florida Department of Health, qualifying conditions in Florida include: cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV-positive status, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, certain rare neurological diseases, and any terminal condition.
For a doctor, consumers can check with the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use on whether a doctor has completed the necessary training. So far, 1,596 physicians are on the list, which is updated every day.
Doctors are required to take a physical exam, assess the patient’s medical history, diagnose whether the patient has a qualifying condition, confirm the patient isn’t already registered, and obtain written consent from the patient.
Roberts said consumers also can get connected to a doctor through Californiabased Heally. Through the app, consumers can find a doctor who can authorize medical marijuana and learn generally about cannabis and treatment of chronic pain or other ailments.
He said to watch out for doctors who are not licensed for medical marijuana and for predatory pricing. “Since there is still a ‘Wild West’ mentality right now in Florida, consumers should be vigilant if a doctor is trying to charge them a lot more, or is charging extra fees for unnecessary tests and documentation,” Roberts said. He said the average price for a doctor’s exam for medical marijuana authorization is about $200. There’s a $75 license fee by the state on top of the doctor’s visit, he noted. Marijuana Doctor charges $74.99 to see a doctor, or $24.97 a month. Consumers can make a one-
time payment of $197, which includes the doctor’s physical exam and medical marijuana treatment evaluation, and follow-ups for seven months. Dunedin, Fla.-based DocMJ, another rapidly growing clinic chain, offers an evaluation for medical marijuana and a sevenmonth followup for $169, according to Stephanie Fair, director of marketing. Patients can opt to pay $30 a month.
“Don’t overspend on the physician. You already know what your conditions are,” Fair said.
DocMJ has about 21,000 patients and 23 locations in Florida, including offices in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Hialeah. It will soon open in Miami as well, Fair said.
The company was founded by Clearwater physician Michael Bruno, who oversees DocMJ’s physicians, some of whom have retired from their medical practices. Fair said DocMJ already has 21 affiliated doctors, and expects to have 40 within six months.
After getting their medical marijuana card, con- sumers can go directly to a dispensary or take advantage of home delivery offered by several dispensa-ries. Marijuana Doctor is growing its business by partnering with acupuncturists and chiropractors. Medical marijuana doctors travel to their office locations to see patients. “This way we can help reach other patients,” Field said. Field has put more than a half-million dollars in the business. Recently, Marijuana Doctor attracted $200,000 in funding from Boca Raton-based Phyto Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in businesses that support medical marijuana in Florida and other states. Brett Finkelstein, managing director for Phyto Partners, said they expect to invest more in Marijuana Doctor as the company meets certain milestones. The company also wants “to expand the practice into other legal states and focus on wellness,” he said.