JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville's second medical marijuana dispensary opened Tuesday in Mandarin.
The Knox Medical dispensary on San Jose Boulevard is one of about a dozen in the state of Florida. As each one has opened, News4Jax has found residents are becoming more open to the idea of medicinal marijuana.
"It's incredible," said Jose Hidalgo, founder and CEO of Knox Medical. "It's hard to put into words. We have been working for the last almost four years to see this day come true."
The first patient was Jordon Gavin, who was shot and paralyzed six years ago. He lives with sharp pains and spasms. Gavin said he believe cannabis has improved his health more than prescription drugs.
"I have seen that it helps me out a lot because I can finally sleep at night. I can rest without spasms," he said.
The idea of medical marijuana is changing. News4Jax went door-to-door to businesses, where employees said off-camera that they think it's a good idea. Others said they didn't know enough about cannabis dispensaries to weigh in.
"I believe they should have some because sometimes you have people who have epilepsy, stuff like that, or nerve problems. And that kind of thing could help them calm down," said Shawn Lewis, who works in the area.
There are 13 qualifying conditions, including epilepsy, glaucoma, cancer and AIDS. The treatment centers, owned by different companies, are located across the state.
In Jacksonville, there's a Loop’s Nursery and Greenhouses Inc., where marijuana will be cultivated.
If you qualify for medical marijuana, but aren't sure where to go, visit the Florida Department of Health website.