EAST NAPLES, Fla. — Medical marijuana licensing facility ‘My Florida Green’ is filing an injunction against the Florida Department of Health over a 2022 restriction on cannabis sales.
“People are going to die. That’s what’s going to happen. What’s happening is people are forced to go to the street now. They’re going to buy fentanyl-laced products that are illegal, and they are going to die. It’s really unfortunate that someone has to die first to get attention,” said Nicholas Garulay, the founder and CEO of My Florida Green.
The clinic said numerous patients have expressed serious concerns about the emergency order, which caps medical cannabis sales at about an ounce of marijuana for a 70-day cycle.
“Patients suffering from debilitating conditions are calling us, literally in tears from the front counter at dispensaries, because they can’t access medicine. We have four documented cancer patients who have been denied access to milligrams… cancer patients need higher access to THC to not only treat their pain but also go after the cancer in their body,” said Garulay.
Medical experts operating inside the clinic claim that a lack of medicinal access for cannabis users can cause serious implications.
“It’s disheartening; it’s really disheartening. Especially because I know they’re going to go to the street. Fentanyl-laced marijuana, versus strain-specific, legal marijuana … They’re gonna hit the bottle, they’re gonna hit the street, they’re gonna hit the pills,” said Dr. Athina Kyritis MD, a medical marijuana certified Physician.
The center has also looked into other avenues to promote change in the cannabis restriction.
“We’re going to fight for you, we’re going to fight for them, and we’re not going to stop. We have a letter to Desantis; we have a letter for our patients, petitions; we’re going to go at this at all angles. We’re not gonna stop,” said Garulay.
Collier County Commissioners chose on Jan. 24 to bring a vote on the banning of medical marijuana dispensaries at its next meeting.
Medical marijuana dispensaries are legal to operate in Lee County.
This is an ongoing story. Count on NBC2 to keep you updated when more information comes into our newsroom.
H/T: nbc-2.com
