Trulieve opens medical marijuana dispensary in Tampa

Due to marijuana's limited legality throughout the US, many who greatly benefit from the drug are forced to make a choice - remain in pain in their home, or leave family behind to seek a legal medical marijuana state. Luckily, residents of Florida no longer have to worry about such problems as the state has made great strides over the last few years in legal marijuana availability. Trulieve is one company making a huge effort to reach out to patients in Florida and make their products available to anyone in need. Opening it's third location this week in Tampa, Trulieve hosts an inventory of THC and CBD capsules, tinctures, and liquids, which are often used to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and fibromyalgia.

Trulieve, one of seven companies in Florida authorized to grow marijuana and produce and sell cannabis pills and oil, opened in a former fitness gym at 8701 N Dale Mabry Highway. It's Trulieve's third location in Florida — the others are in Clearwater and Tallahassee — and the latest in a plan to expand to all of the state's major markets, said chief executive officer Kim Rivers. A St. Petersburg location is expected to open later this year.

The goal is to improve access for patients, Rivers said. Trulieve, which has a growing and production facility near Tallahassee, already delivers anywhere in the state, but patients can avoid a delivery fee by picking up their medication in person.

"We think it's very, very important for dispensing organizations and dispensaries to be located close to patients so they can develop a relationship with that particular dispensary," she said