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Igniting Florida’s Nikki Fried Focuses Medical

on Medical Cannabis, Children’s Rights Marijuana

Insurance for
BY VANESSA ORR ing on the legal parameters crisis—to give more patients the option to
and legislative aspects of use medical marijuana as opposed to
When Nicole “Nikki” medical marijuana in addictive drugs pushed by pharmaceutical Physicians and
Fried opened her full- Florida, and lobbying for companies.”
service government con- the rights of patients with In addition to her role in the medical Dispensaries
sulting firm, Igniting the passage of HB 307, marijuana industry, Fried has also earned a
Florida LLC, in 2016, which recognized the reputation for championing children’s It’s a common misconception that
her goal was to make a rights of terminally ill rights. She works with Florida’s Children legal marijuana dispensary insurance
difference in Tallahassee patients to experiment with First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organiza- is very expensive and unattainable, but
and Broward County. non-FDA approved reme- tion dedicated to advancing the rights of it is actually very reasonably priced.
With clients now includ- dies, including medicinal children, especially those in foster care. In We can provide you with many types
ing San Felasco Nur - cannabis. this role, she helped to accomplish the of comprehensive insurance coverage
series, Florida’s Children While Fried leads passage of HB 561, which provides $4.5 which will help your business stay on
First and the Broward statewide and local lobby- million in appropriations to ensure its feet should some type of calamity or
County School Board, ing efforts for San Felasco Florida's special needs dependent children unfortunate event arise.
she is quickly earning a Nicole Fried Nurseries, other license have access to lawyers.
reputation for doing just holders, physicians’ associ- “I consider this one of my greatest • General Liability
• Property Protection
that. ations and industry groups accomplishments,” said Fried. “We’ve now • Medicine Coverage
While her clients are diverse, she says look to her leadership and guidance to got attorneys speaking on behalf of our • Business Income
one thing unites them. “It’s all about com- help steer the future of Florida’s medical children; not just for the state or the par- • Extra Expense Insurance
passion,” she explained. “It’s about taking marijuana program. ents or guardians. • Product Liability
care of people who sometimes can’t take “We have a vibrant medical marijuana “What I do with medical marijuana,
care of themselves or who need extra assis- industry in Florida, but there is a lot of and foster kids, and the school system—a Danna-Gracey is the leading indepen-
tance, like Parkinson’s patients who need work to be done as there are a lot of hoops lot comes down to education,” she added. dent medical malpractice insurance
access to medical marijuana, or special to jump through,” Fried said. “We’re slow- “I’m frustrated with the partisan mindset agency in Florida, and the top agency
needs children who should have attorneys ly but surely going to get there.” on human issues—issues that just require for several of the lead-
representing their interests in court. While Fried is currently working on every- common sense. This political divide does a ing insurers in Florida.
For more information
I work in different silos, I bring the same thing from putting together a legislative disservice to our citizens. Education and contact Jessica Hoehn
passion to each client, trying to provide a platform for 2019 to working on issues advocacy break down stereotypes, and of Danna-Gracey at
better life for them.” that need to be fixed within the current working together, we can make lives better 888.496.0059.
A graduate of the University of Florida regulations. “I spend a significant amount for all people. I wake up every day with the
with a BA in political science, a master’s in of time in Washington D.C. fighting on drive to make a difference.”
political campaigning and a law degree behalf of the industry, including produc-
from the university’s Fredric G. Levin ers, bankers, physicians and insurers,” she For more information about Igniting Florida
College of Law, Fried was previously explained. “I bring a lot of knowledge to LLC, visit www.IgnitingFlorida.com or call
employed at Colodny Fass, where she says the table, and have years of experience (954) 734-3799. 888.496.0059 • Jessica@dannagracey.com
that she “cut her teeth” on all things working with elected and appointed offi- www.dannagracey.com
Tallahassee. cials and the industry.”
“After gaining San Felasco Nurseries as According to Fried, there are a number
a client, I realized that they needed my of issues that require attention. “Next year,
undivided attention,” she explained of her I see big changes coming on the national
decision to start her own firm to help serv- level, including states’ rights, protecting
ice one of the six companies that has a medical marijuana, and regulations con-
license to grow and dispense medical mar- cerning financial institutions,” she said.
ijuana in the state. “I could tell that this “Within the state, I see changes in the
would be a fast-growing industry, so I took regulatory framework—the loosening of
the ball and rolled with it.” some rules, and the expansion of ‘allowed’
Fried was involved from day one, work- conditions as a way to deal with the opiate

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