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AROUND THE REGION
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Back Cover Story: Cannabis Spotlight

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my knowledge in the subject. Little did I know, the Department of Health was publishing
When did you start your practice in the cannabis space? all physician names, with addresses and phone numbers who took the class, as a service
I started my own practice (Medical Cannabis Clinic of Florida) in August 2016. to help patients find certified physicians. Imagine my surprise when one of my pediatric
Initially it was just me doing everything - answering phones, scheduling appointments, nurses came to me in utter confusion when a 68-year-old with cancer was calling our
checking in patients. After about 6 months, I added my first employee. In September office to schedule an appointment with me for cannabis certification. The calls continued
2017, my company bought into MMTC of Florida, (which had also started in late 2016 and I realized there was truly a need for someone to help these patients in northwest
in the Tallahassee area). With my MMTC partners, I was able to add additional physicians Florida. After a few weeks, I found another pediatrician to job share my pediatric practice
and locations in Fort Walton Beach and Panama City. While MMTC of FL has twenty- and leased separate space to start a cannabis practice. After a year of splitting my work
three offices throughout the state, I personally oversee patient care in the 5 most western week between General Pediatrics and Cannabis medicine, I left my pediatric practice and
counties (Bay, Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Escambia). haven’t looked back. Almost 5 years later, I am proud to have approximately 3,300 active
patients, and am very grateful to the Florida DOH for helping give me that nudge into
What is your specialty relating to treating patients with cannabis? my midlife career change.
I am a board-certified pediatrician but see mostly adults in my cannabis practice. In
medical school, I did not think I would enjoy working with elderly patients, but I am Do you see Florida moving forward with recreational
happy to report I was wrong. My oldest cannabis patient is 103 (never thought I would Marijuana/cannabis and how will that affect your business?
say that as a pediatrician!) Eventually, yes, I believe Florida will have a legalized recreational market. However,
In my opinion, pediatrics and cannabis medicine are similar in that there is lots of with the recent Supreme Court ruling against the Make It Legal Florida ballot measure
patient education involved. Now instead of teaching parents about car seats and feeding language, I do not foresee the recreational market coming to fruition for at least four more
schedules, I am explaining differences in terpenes and modes of cannabis delivery. I have years. If you look at other states that have recreational markets though, medical markets
learned that educating others on issues I am passionate about gives me job satisfaction, still exist, so there will still be a need for cannabis physicians, albeit a fewer number.
regardless of the patient’s age. I also love how much I learn from my patients, both on Medicine is not taxed, and most recreational states have high taxes levied on cannabis
cannabis and non-cannabis related issues. products. Additionally, medicinal products often are allowed to have stronger potencies
Of course, as a pediatrician, I have to know my limits and when to “phone a friend”. I than products on the recreational market. Therefore, even with the price of the physician
refrain from making suggestions or changes to a patient’s traditional medications, and visit and state card, it can still be cost effective for patients to stay in the medical cannabis
instead recommend the patient bring up weaning of medications with their prescribing system.
providers.

How did you get started within the cannabis industry?
“Kids to Cannabis-Welcome to my Midlife Crisis” would be my book title. I actually
give the credit to the State of Florida Department of Health. In early 2016, the proposed
Amendment 2 was in the news, and the original low THC CBD only program was starting
in Florida. I realized I had learned nothing about medical cannabis in medical school and
decided to take the 8-hour physician course as continuing medical education to increase

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