Knox Medical to begin dispensing medical marijuana this week

Knox Medical will soon begin dispensing medical marijuana to qualified patients.

The company announced Tuesday it recently received approval from the Florida Department of Health to begin dispensing low-THC and medical cannabis this week. The company is set to begin initial deliveries to qualified patients Friday.

Knox Medical is one of six organizations in the state approved to cultivate, process and dispense low-THC cannabis and medical marijuana. The Orange County organization received the highest score out of all the nurseries that applied for permission to cultivate, process and dispense medical marijuana.

“Ever since Knox Medical was awarded the highest score in Florida to produce medical cannabis, our team of growers, engineers, researchers, and experts have prepared for this exact moment to produce industry leading medicines for patients and their families,” said Bruce Knox, co-founder and chief operating officer of Knox Medical, in a statement. “We are honored to have this privilege to serve our fellow Floridians who require compassionate medical relief.”

The company is set to open five state-of-the-art dispensaries in Orlando, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake Worth and Tallahassee in early 2017. The company plans to announce another round of dispensary locations in 2017.

“Knox Medical is producing superior quality medicinal cannabis, and our mission is focused on putting the needs and interests of patients first,” said Jose J. Hidalgo, the founder and CEO of Knox Medical, in a statement. “At every stage in this process, from cultivation to dispensing at our medical facility, from engaging physicians and guiding patients throughout this process to building first-in-class dispensaries throughout Florida, our objective at Knox Medical is to exceed the definition of excellence at every level.”

Low-THC cannabis was authorized under the 2014 Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act. Legal challenges marred implementation of the law, but at least two other dispensing organizations have begun distributing the product.

In 2015, lawmakers expanded the Right to Try Act to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana. And under a newly approved constitutional amendment, more patients could have access to full-strength medical marijuana.