Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Signs that had been seen in Jacksonville offering $199 office visits for "Legal Weed" are now cropping up in Flagler County, prompting a scam warning from Sheriff Rick Staly.
When News4Jax called the "866" number on the sign, a man on the other end of the line explained that the company, Florida Compassionate Youth, provides a license -- for a membership fee -- so a patient can go to a doctor's appointment to get a medical marijuana prescription for an illness.
"We currently have two memberships available, which is a silver and gold membership," the male operator said. "Silver costs $199 for sign up and $10 a month after that, and the gold costs $699 for sign up and $20 per month after that."
But according to the Florida Health Department's website, no such license is required to obtain a medical marijuana prescription.
"Don't be taken in with the hope of getting medical marijuana," Staly said. "The only thing you will get is the loss of your money. This is truly 'smoke and mirrors.'"
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the person answering the "866" number asks for credit card and driver's license information to issue the unnecessary license.
"They're also taking all that information and possibly resell it to fraudulently resell your identity to somebody else," chief spokesman Mark Strobridge said.
Staly and other Flagler County leaders asked residents to spread the word about the potential scam.
"Anytime you see a sign along the road advertising something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Strobridge said.
In a warning about medical marijuana scams issued by the Florida Department of Health last month, the DOH said residents need to be aware that the health department is the only agency that can issue an identification card for medical marijuana in Florida.
There are seven dispensing organizations, and they are the only businesses that can dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients.
To qualify for medical marijuana in Florida:
- A patient must have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition.
- A patient must be a Florida resident.
- If under the age of 18, a patient must have a second physician agree to the use in order to obtain an order from a qualified physician.
- A patient must have tried other treatments without success.
- An ordering physician must determine the risks of use are reasonable in light of the benefit to the patient.
- A patient must be registered with the Compassionate Use Registry by their ordering physician.
- A patient must be receiving treatment from a qualified ordering physician during the immediate preceding 3 months prior to an order being placed.
None of those requirements involves needing a license to see a doctor qualified to prescribe medical marijuana.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: 'Legal Weed' signs prompt warning from Flagler County sheriff
Contact: Contact WKMG News 6 | ClickOrlando
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: ClickOrlando l Orlando, Florida News, Local Headlines l WKMG...
When News4Jax called the "866" number on the sign, a man on the other end of the line explained that the company, Florida Compassionate Youth, provides a license -- for a membership fee -- so a patient can go to a doctor's appointment to get a medical marijuana prescription for an illness.
"We currently have two memberships available, which is a silver and gold membership," the male operator said. "Silver costs $199 for sign up and $10 a month after that, and the gold costs $699 for sign up and $20 per month after that."
But according to the Florida Health Department's website, no such license is required to obtain a medical marijuana prescription.
"Don't be taken in with the hope of getting medical marijuana," Staly said. "The only thing you will get is the loss of your money. This is truly 'smoke and mirrors.'"
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the person answering the "866" number asks for credit card and driver's license information to issue the unnecessary license.
"They're also taking all that information and possibly resell it to fraudulently resell your identity to somebody else," chief spokesman Mark Strobridge said.
Staly and other Flagler County leaders asked residents to spread the word about the potential scam.
"Anytime you see a sign along the road advertising something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Strobridge said.
In a warning about medical marijuana scams issued by the Florida Department of Health last month, the DOH said residents need to be aware that the health department is the only agency that can issue an identification card for medical marijuana in Florida.
There are seven dispensing organizations, and they are the only businesses that can dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients.
To qualify for medical marijuana in Florida:
- A patient must have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition.
- A patient must be a Florida resident.
- If under the age of 18, a patient must have a second physician agree to the use in order to obtain an order from a qualified physician.
- A patient must have tried other treatments without success.
- An ordering physician must determine the risks of use are reasonable in light of the benefit to the patient.
- A patient must be registered with the Compassionate Use Registry by their ordering physician.
- A patient must be receiving treatment from a qualified ordering physician during the immediate preceding 3 months prior to an order being placed.
None of those requirements involves needing a license to see a doctor qualified to prescribe medical marijuana.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: 'Legal Weed' signs prompt warning from Flagler County sheriff
Contact: Contact WKMG News 6 | ClickOrlando
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: ClickOrlando l Orlando, Florida News, Local Headlines l WKMG...
