Waiting in pain: North Fort Myers woman awaits medical marijuana access

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NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. Three surgeries down and presumably many more to go, Debbie Randolph is searching for help in obtaining what she believes is a way to help with her chronic pain.

“There’s so many people that could benefit from it, and it’s aggravating that you can’t find the information that you want,” she said.

Randolph first tried marijuana this year as an alternative to opiates following each cancer surgery.
“I don’t want to go into back alley and (get) illegal drugs,” she said.
Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but getting it, or even finding information on it, has been difficult for Randolph.

Her regular doctor can’t prescribe it. Those who do must be on a state registry.

But getting a new doctor isn’t simple. State law requires the patient to have at least a three-month relationship with an approved doctor.

“I have established a relationship with a doctor but in the end, I don’t know if i can afford it,” she said.
For now, Randolph is taking Aspirin for her pain.
“It’s not about getting high,” she said. “It has nothing to do with it.”
Two marijuana-related bills are currently in the state legislature, but both limits the expansion of medical marijuana.

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