In Florida, patients purchase medical marijuana from Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers or MMTCs, which is another word for Dispensaries. These businesses have been approved by The Florida Department of Health: Office of Medical Marijuana Use to produce and sell medical marijuana to qualified patients. The state of Florida has designed a system that is vertically integrated meaning that the MMTCs handle everything from “seed-to-table”, including: growing, producing, manufacturing, packaging, and ultimately, the selling of all MMJ products. Patients will likely see around 14 different MMTCs in Florida with 100’s of locations throughout the state. While most deliver statewide, not all are currently equipped to do this.

A list of MMTC’s, contact information and discounts are updated regularly on Compassionate Healthcare of Florida’s Florida MMTC Offers & Discounts page. For patients in Southwest Florida, we also have a list of local dispensaries available.

Simply put, phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant. They imitate endocannabinoids in our bodies and each one has unique properties and medical uses. Of the many phytocannabinoids that are produced by cannabis, some of the most significant are: THC, CBD, THCV, CBG, CBC, CBDA, THCA, CBDV, and CBN.

The therapeutic potential of medical marijuana continues to develop as physicians and scientists learn more about the amazing impact specific cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids can have on the human body.

Some studies have shown the difference is minimal between the two strain types. However, most patients do see a significant distinction between them.

In the most simplistic terms, THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid and will produce a “high feeling”, while CBD will not. They both have unique properties beneficial to medical cannabis patients, and most patients benefit from a combination of the two. The entourage effect obtained by combining these two compounds can also reduce euphoric feelings of the THC.

By adjusting the ratio of THC and CBD, patients can experience cannabis in different ways. For beginning patients who want the benefits without the euphoria caused by high THC levels, they can start with a 1:1 balanced ratio and slowly make adjustments from there.

Pinene, limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, and others, will wow your taste buds with an assortment of flavors. Each of these terpenes is found in varying concentrations depending on the strain, and each holds a mixture of flavors that leave medical marijuana patients speechless. Besides making MMJ enjoyable and offering a unique aroma, terpenes offer patients numerous physical and mental health benefits.

The MMJ consumption options available in Florida are vaping, oils, concentrates, edibles & pills, topicals & transdermals, tinctures, and of course, whole flower use. Some MMTC’s also offer suppositories, inhalers, and sublingual products.

Medical Marijuana products are all labeled with a THC percentage on their packaged labels. For patients who are using a tincture of THC and CBD, it will most often come in a small bottle with a built-in “dropper”. The bottles contain about 500 single drops, depending on the size, and patients may start with 5- or 10-drops per dose. Products such as vaporizer cartridges can be quite potent for new medical patients. Patients should begin with a single inhalation and wait fifteen or twenty minutes before increasing the dosage. Products such as concentrates, which include Rosin, Shatter, Wax, and Crumble are very high potency and should be used sparingly for any new user. Keif, is the natural trichomes of the marijuana plant and is a better option for beginners. For those looking to consume full spectrum RSO, you will want to start with a small dose (about half the size of a grain of rice) and work your way up as tolerated.

Always start low and work your way up so that you do not consume too much and have unpleasant side effects. Each person’s physiology will respond differently to medical cannabis use, so it will take some trial and error for patients to find the optimal regimen that will work best.

Please note everybody responds differently and can have a different edibles experience. Always start low and slow— while following package guidelines.

Delta-8 THC, or D8-THC for short, is a well-known cannabinoid to the scientific community. First discovered in 1941, Delta-8 THC has long garnered interest by the medical community for its therapeutic qualities. If you’re looking for a psychoactive experience without the paranoia, but all of the therapeutic benefits of marijuana — Delta-8 THC might be what you’ve been waiting for.

Many consumers love CBD for relaxing, relieving muscle tension, lowering stress levels, and zapping away anxious feelings. But for some users, it’s not enough. People who’ve tried cannabis dispensary products with delta-9 THC sometimes find it’s overpowering.

Unlike CBD, Delta-8 is mildly intoxicating. The key to that statement is “mild” as Delta 8 has only about 2:3 the potency of delta 9, offering consumers a pleasant experience. For patient’s interested in Delta-8, it is legal in Florida to purchase—just ensure you purchase from a trusted source who batch-tested product. We
recommend Real Releaf CBD to our patients as they have very high-quality products that give excellent results. They are available at www.realreleafcbd.com

When it comes to potency, vaporizing cannabis flower is the route to go. The reason behind this is because vaporizers heat your medical marijuana to a specific temperature. Vaporizers utilize a low temperature that does not destroy the natural terpenes found on the flower. Terpenes are organic compounds that are found in abundance on cannabis flowers, alongside THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. Terpenes have recently been determined to play a significant role in how you feel while consuming cannabis. This means, the more terpenes present, the stronger the effects.

When you smoke or burn cannabis flower, the high temperature from a lighter instantly combusts the terpenes, which decreases the potential potency. By vaping cannabis flowers, you effectively preserve potent terpenes, and you’re able to experience the true effects that the cannabis strain has to offer. Vaporization also produces less particulates than combustion of flower, which can release potential tar, carbon monoxide and carcinogens when burning occurs.

Only Certified Doctors Can “Input A Recommendation” For Medical Marijuana

Only physicians who become qualified by taking specific CME’s are authorized to recommend medical marijuana to patients who suffer from conditions they determine to be debilitating and chronic