Winter Garden nursery named marijuana dispensary

WINTER GARDEN As with most firsts, a high level of interest has developed in Knox Nursery, the first business in Central Florida allowed to sell medical marijuana.

 “Our staff and family is honored that the history of excellence at Knox Nursery has been recognized by the state of Florida with the selection for a license to grow and dispense medical marijuana in Central Florida,” Knox Nursery President Bruce Knox said. “Knox Nursery was founded by my parents and has since grown into one of the most technologically advanced greenhouse operations in Florida.”

The low-THC strain Knox Nursery now may grow is called Charlotte’s Web, which has been legal in Florida since 2014. At least seven other Central Florida companies applied for the license to grow and dispense Charlotte’s Web, but Knox Nursery was the only business in the area to receive approval among just five in the state.

“We are humbled by the understanding that our mission is to bring comfort and relief to patients suffering from painful and debilitating illnesses,” Knox said. “We look forward to working with state regulators to bring this important product to the families in the state of Florida as soon as possible.  We thank the Department of Health and congratulate the other four grower organizations who were selected. A lot of hard work went into the process from all.”

Knox Nursery is a high-tech greenhouse business on Avalon Road near the Stoneybrook West community.

The other four approved dispensing organizations are located in Gadsden, Alachua, Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties.

Gov. Rick Scott signed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 into law June 16, 2014. The act authorizes doctors licensed under Chapter 458 and Chapter 459 of Florida Statutes to order low-THC cannabis for qualified patients. Before ordering low-THC cannabis for use by a patient, the ordering physician must successfully complete an eight-hour course and pass an exam.

For patients to qualify to receive low-THC cannabis, he or she must be a Florida resident; suffer from cancer or a physical medical condition that chronically produces symptoms of seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms (or symptoms of the same); and have tried other treatments without success. If a patient is under age 18, a second physician must agree with the determination of need for the patient.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].