Page 36 - SFHN Feb 2021

AROUND THE REGION
TM

Trulieve Opens 71st Dispensary Back Cover Story:
in Gainesville

Cannabis Spotlight

Continued from page 40 sador for a Florida cannabis brand and
public relations for a large Florida med-
What field are you in within the ical cannabis conference.
cannabis space?
I am the Founder/Owner of Canna Are you personally a MJ card
Crusade Wellness in Tallahassee. We holder?
provide qualified patients of all ages the Yes, I am. I am proud to be one of the
required physician recommendation first 10,000 registered patients.
needed for medical cannabis, education
and assist them with the State applica- Do you see Florida moving for-
tion for their medical marijuana card. I ward with recreational
also volunteer consulting work for Marijuana/cannabis and how
cannabis support nonprofits. will that affect your business?
I think it’s hard to deny the cannabis
How can people in Florida ben- movement is growing stronger as more
efit from the company you rep- than half of the U.S. has implemented
resent? some form of cannabis legalization, and
As someone that has had the benefit of with the Covid-19 pandemic, the
being a patient first, then an employee on cannabis industry being deemed essen-
the dispensary side and then opening my tial makes a pretty profound point when
own practice, I believe people in Florida considering legalization. I believe it’s not
can feel confident in the care they receive IF Florida will move forward with recre-
at Canna Crusade Wellness. I have seen ational, it’s WHEN. And will it be before
firsthand what patients are lacking in Federal laws change? This will cause a
terms of their experience with their MMJ change in the medical market and will
doctor, I have seen what a patient’s expe- directly impact my business. However, I
rience is in the dispensary as well as what believe there will always be a demand for
a “budtender” experiences day to day. As medical cannabis for a few reasons. First,
a mother of a pediatric patient, I can con- recreational cannabis comes with
fidently assure that we are one of the extremely high taxes, people who can
only clinics in Florida that see pediatrics qualify for medical cannabis will likely
and possess the knowledge to gear go that route to avoid paying the high
patients toward success. I believe it’s cost of recreational products. Medical
important to bridge the gap and provide cannabis is not taxed. Also, imagine how
education, especially in the pediatric the demand will change once federal
population. The more people are made laws change and health insurance com-
aware of this alternative medicine, how panies come into play. This will be huge
to use it properly and responsibly, the for medical patients, as cost is almost
greater the stigma will be reduced, and always a concern. There will still be
more families will have improved quality patients who are looking for the guid-
of life. ance of a physician. Finally, Canna
Crusade Wellness has a passion for help-
How did you get started within ing children, and regardless of recre-
the cannabis industry? ational laws, minors will always need
I became a patient first, began net- medical cards as it’s not recommended
working and volunteering at various that children use cannabis recreationally
cannabis events throughout the state and and in states that have approved recre-
advocating for cannabis legalization. ational laws, it’s for adult use only. So,
This allowed me to meet other people in while I believe there will be some
the industry and build relationships with changes in the industry once we go
people who are on similar journeys. recreational, we will adapt and continue
Then I left “corporate America” and to grow as we have since the passing of
worked for Florida’s largest MMTC (dis- Amendment 2 in 2016.
pensary), as well as being a brand ambas-

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