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First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens In Florida

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Florida first legal medical-marijuana dispensary formally opened Tuesday in a Tallahassee storefront, a week after the company known as Trulieve received state approval to begin selling a type of non-euphoric cannabis.

A 2014 law allows the company to sell low-THC cannabis oil to patients who suffer from cancer, chronic muscle spasms and seizures. Another law, passed during the most recent legislative session, allows terminally ill patients to use full-strength marijuana.

“When I say it is an historic and momentous day, it really is," Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said during a packed news conference at the store Tuesday. "We are really overwhelmed and so proud to be this pioneer."

So far, one issue facing patients who want to get legal weed is finding doctors who will sign off on the treatment. As of last week, only 15 doctors had signed up to order the low-THC products. While lawmakers gave approval in 2014, a series of legal battles has delayed the cannabis from becoming available to patients.

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