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I asked a florida medical marijuana patient These 3 Questions

The industry that is growing and changing the "stoner" stigma

kellicollinss

Jul 23, 2018

Orlando, Florida

191

@thomasbjornstad

Marijuana is the hot topic in politics and a continuous ongoing debate. With all these upcoming elections, candidates are stating their point of view. Medical marijuana was legalized and became effective in the state of Florida on January 3^rd, 2017. It's a joke that anyone can qualify for a medical card by just stating they have a minor case such as "anxiety" and "back pain", but that's not the case at all. In the state of Florida, there are 10 qualifying medical conditions. These include Cancer, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Multiple sclerosis. These are all very serious medical conditions that require a diagnosis from a particular medical specialist. People of all sorts are signing up for their own medical cards to help relieve their own conditions.

I interviewed college student Conor Malone on what it is like to have a medical marijuana card in the state of Florida. Conor in October of 2017 received his medical card for Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. I asked him three questions about what it is like to be a medical marijuana patient.

1. "What was the process like to get a medical marijuana card?"

I had to print out doctors notes that had my diagnosis on it and scheduled an appointment at a medical marijuana doctor's office in Tampa, FL. In the office, I had to pay for my appointment and he explained everything to me. They educated me on the specifications of each method of relief offered by marijuana. After that appointment, the doctor gave me a prescription for how much I can purchase and what category of products I can purchase from. I paid my processing fee to receive my card and in a few weeks, l got a confirmation email saying I was approved.

2. "What is it like to purchase your medicine?"

You have to find a dispensary that is registered and licensed to sell medical marijuana products in the state of Florida. When you walk in, they take your card immediately and register you in their system. Afterward, you wait to get called back so you can be assisted by a sales associate. Many of these employees are very educated about the products they are selling and can answer your questions.

3. "What are the products you use?"

It's not actually the plant form of marijuana like everyone probably thinks. I usually use oil cartridges that are vaporized and oral. The oral route is available to those who would like another option besides smoking through tincture oil and capsules.

Medical marijuana is available in the state of Florida for certain conditions and with the upcoming election, the list of conditions could expand. This is a popular form of alternative medicine that is continuing to grow in and outside the state of Florida. The stigma behind marijuana is the stereotypical stoner dazed and confused, but it's much more than that and the public should be more educated.

For more education on medical marijuana, visit the Florida Department of Health.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Lifestyle

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

North Carolina State University

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Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

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Recommended for you

I asked a florida medical marijuana patient These 3 Questions

The industry that is growing and changing the "stoner" stigma

1. "What was the process like to get a medical marijuana card?"

2. "What is it like to purchase your medicine?"

3. "What are the products you use?"

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Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures.

1. Sun showers

2. Smiles

3. Tight hugs

4. Discovering new foods you like.

5. Laying in bed after a long day.

6. And being completely relaxed

7. "This reminded me of you"

8. Breakfast foods

9. Over-sized clothes

10. Contagious laughs

11. Car rides with that one person

12. Random (I miss you/ I love you) texts

13. The city at night

14. Surprises

15. Blanket cocoons

16. Good hair days

17. Really good coffee

18. Days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason

19. Conquering a fear

20. When they give you a lot of guac at Chipotle

21. Being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything

22. Home-cooked meals

23. Tattoo stories

24. Leaves changing color in fall

25. Butterflies in your stomach

26. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

27. When you can't stop laughing

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

Coors Light Summer Brew:

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Want to know more about beer?

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Hell or High Watermelon

Blue Moon Summer Honey

LandShark Lager

Corona

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

Perfect Weather

You'll get an effortless tan

You can exercise with a view

You don't have to worry about bug bites

In n Out all day, every day

We have outdoor concerts

We live where people vacation

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics.

1. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It's where my demons hide.”

2. “Tonight, we are young.”

3. “Cuz I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.”

4. “Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame.”

5. “I can’t wait to fall in love with you, you can’t wait to fall in love with me.”

6. “Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on.”

7. “Why you so obsessed with me?”

8. “We ain’t ever getting older.”

9. “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.”

10. “Didn’t they tell you I’m a savage?"

11. “I’m gonna make you miss me.”

12. "Cheers to the freakin weekend.”

13. “Love’s a game. Wanna play?”

14. “You don’t know about me, but I bet you want to.”

15. “Let’s set each other’s lonely nights, Be each other’s paradise.”

16. “Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls."

17. “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

18. “But you will remember me for centuries.”

19. “Something about you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

20. “Don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me.”

21. “Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”

22. “Find me where the wild things are.”

23. “I’m high on lovin’ you.”

24. “If you’re gonna be somebody’s heartbreak, somebody’s mistake, if you’re gonna be somebody’s first time, somebody’s last time, be mine.”

25. “Don’t be afraid to take the road less traveled on.”

Everything Bruce says in his classic rock songs.

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1. "Talk about a dream
Try to make it real
You wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well don't waste your time waiting." (Badlands)