A Simple Guide to Getting Medical Marijuana in Naples, Florida

An answer to necessary questions about the medical marijuana industry in the State of Florida.

There are plenty of unique things to do in Naples, Florida. Children can get briefly lost in the maze at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. The whole family can take a tour of the oldest house in Naples at Palm Cottage. Foodies can sample the Roman Ramen at Bar Tulia. There’s something for everyone.

The same goes for Naples’ medical marijuana patients. However, the industry isn’t as a well-established in Collier County as patients might like. So, here’s a simple guide to get marijuana in Naples, Florida.

But first, some might question if it should even be accessible.

Is Medical Cannabis as Safe as We Think It Is?

Since the early-mid 20th century, cannabis has faced massive stigma in the Western world. Why? Mountains of propaganda were spread against it. Politicians and the media took aim at cannabis. They claimed it caused young people to go crazy. They said it turned people into lazy, slothful creatures. They swore it rotted your brain, drank your ambition, and would destroy your future and make you a dangerous person.

This type of misinformation went on for decades without rebuttal. Generations were brainwashed by the idea that cannabis was an evil weed. So, it’s no surprise that those ideas have residually clung on to our thoughts about cannabis.

But, the propaganda was wrong. Cannabis is a medicine that has shown promise in a wide range of medical applications. In fact, the State of Florida has created its own set of ‘qualifying conditions’ for receiving a medical marijuana registry card.

Those conditions include:

●      Irritable Bowel Syndrome

●      Glaucoma

●      Multiple Sclerosis

●      Parkinson’s

●      Epilepsy

●      HIV/AIDS

●      Lyme Disease

●      Migraines

●      Muscle Spasms

●      And more

So, according to the State government, cannabis is a medicine. It’s a widely-known fact that not all medicines are safe, however. Opiates kill tens of thousands of patients each year. So, what about cannabis? It’s a medicine, but is it safe?

Cannabis and opiates interact with our bodies in different ways. Due to their ability to impact autonomic functions like beating a heart or pumping the lungs, large doses of opiates can shut down these processes. That’s what happens when patients accidentally overdose on opioids.

Cannabinoids, however, don’t impact our autonomic functions in quite the same way. Instead of altering the rhythm of our hearts or breathing, cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). It’s a system that regulates homeostasis and is involved with our digestion, immune regulation, pain management, and more. Our bodies even generate their own endogenous cannabinoids that are almost identical to the cannabinoids in cannabis on a molecular level.

In terms of toxicity, cannabis has almost zero. The worst side-effects of cannabis use are often tiredness or a negative response to the psychoactive effect that’s common in inexperienced users. Overall, cannabis is a relatively safe medicine to use as an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Naples, Florida

Getting a medical marijuana card in Naples isn’t extremely difficult, but it can take time and persistence. In reality, there are two simple ways to get one. The first, and perhaps the best way, is by attending one of My Florida Green’s Educational Symposiums.

At our events, you’ll have access to our professional staff, including medical cannabis doctors. You’ll get to meet with the cannabis business leaders in your area. The best part: you can have an on-site consultation with one of our doctors to get your medical marijuana card recommendation.

Another way to get a recommendation is through a more personalized route. It’s a four-step process that’s easy to follow:

1. Locate and connect with a medical marijuana doctor near you.
2. Establish care with their office and set up an appointment with the doctor.
3. Attend an in-person consultation with the doctor where you’ll get your medical marijuana recommendation.
4. Apply to the State of Florida for your medical marijuana card.

Why Are People Getting Their Medical Marijuana Card in Naples, Florida?

Generally speaking, some of the most common reasons to get a medical marijuana card in Naples include:

●        Chronic anxiety

●        Chronic headaches

●        Chronic Pain

●        Cancer

●        Nerve Damage

As you can see, five of the most common reasons to get a medical marijuana card are due to chronic ailments and illnesses. That’s because people with chronic pain, for example, often don’t respond well to traditional pharmaceuticals.  The same can be said for cancer patients and people who suffer from chronic migraines.

As discussed, cannabis a relatively safe medicine. More importantly, however, it treats patients with conditions that are otherwise difficult to treat. Which is why cannabis is often prescribed to people with difficult to treat illnesses. 

The situation is no different for medical cannabis patients living in Naples.

Perhaps their biggest challenge is finding their medicine within a reasonable budget.

How to Find Medical Cannabis in Naples, Florida on a Budget

In some cities, the best way to access the medical cannabis industry is by walking from door-to-door and comparing the prices. In Naples, however, that’s not possible. Collier County has outlawed the presence of medical cannabis dispensaries within its limits. So, how can Naples’ medical cannabis patients get access to their medicine within a decent budget?

Unfortunately, if medical cannabis patients in Naples want to look at a shelf before ordering off of it, they have to drive outside of Collier County. Thankfully, their other option is to have their medicine delivered to their door.

Both options add additional costs to the price of their medicine. One adds the cost of gasoline and car maintenance and the other adds the cost of delivery. When deciding which helps keep the cost of medicine within a reasonable budget, those are the counterbalances to look at.

However, there’s also a third option: have a medical cannabis caregiver. A caregiver can get your medicine for you. They can pool their patients' purchases and thus bring down the cost of the medicine overall, in terms of shipping costs.

How are you keeping your medical cannabis costs down? Let us know!