Trulieve opens medical marijuana dispensary in Orlando

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A new medical marijuana dispensary opened Tuesday in Orlando.

Trulieve, at 4544 N. Orange Blossom Trail, was one of three dispensaries the city preapproved in 2016 to open.

Operators at Trulieve said they hope its presence in Orlando continues to change the stigma about medical marijuana

A clean, clinical atmosphere is why Joyce Bennett chose to bring managing chronic pain to Trulieve, she said.

“I feel good coming here. I don't feel like I'm doing something sleazy, which is important to me because my grandkids may be watching this,” Bennett said.

Inside the dispensary, care consultants dispense an array of low- and high-THC products, including oils, vaporizers, capsules, sprays and creams.

“We want people to feel comfortable. We want people to feel like they're getting the medicine and not in an uncomfortable way,” Trulieve employee Victoria Walker said.

Maria Conti told Channel 9's Angela Jacobs that she's been battling Multiple sclerosis for more than two decades. She said because of medical marijuana, she's been able to wean off anti-epileptic medicine for nerve pain.

“Just a little bit of a dab (of cream) on my wrist, you don't need much, maybe a pea size, so a little goes a long way,” Conti said.

To make purchases, customers don't need an appointment but must show proof of being a registered patient with the state of Florida to make any purchases, which requires being under a specially certified doctor's care.

Trulieve has three other dispensaries in Edgewater, Lady Lake and The Villages.

Cox Media Group