For almost a year, Dr. Jessica McCain has been providing assistance to those who want an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals at her Southern Comfort Medical Marijuana Clinic in St. Lucie West.
This Friday, April 20, for six hours, the doors to the clinic will be open to the public for those who are curious or have questions. The date was selected tongue-in-cheek, as 4/20 has become an international counterculture holiday, according to medical assistant Christine Torres.
Dr. McCain, who runs the clinic located on NW University Boulevard across from First Data Field, got into the medical marijuana field after Florida voters supported the measure to legalize the drug for medical purposes.
She saw it as a way to provide another avenue of treatment for those with chronic, debilitating conditions.
Statewide, the average age of medical marijuana patients is 55 or older, though McCain has treated a few pediatric patients, too. But mostly, “they’re middle-aged and trying to get their lives back,” she said. “You would have no idea” they’re taking medical cannabis.
Unlike other medical marijuana facilities making news as of late, McCain’s is a doctor’s office – not a dispensary. She does not fill prescriptions; no marijuana is on site.
Instead, she consults and educates prospective patients and helps them navigate the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use to get their registration identification card.
She also writes “orders” – akin to prescriptions – which are then dispensed at any number of medical marijuana dispensaries. One such dispensary, Liberty Health Sciences, is on track to open a facility in Port St. Lucie later this month.
At Friday’s event, representatives from both Liberty and fellow dispensary Surterra will be on hand to answer questions from attendees. There will also be a representative from Bud for Vets to address veteran-specific questions, and an essential oils representative.
“Anyone interested in medical marijuana as a treatment should attend or anyone with questions,” said Torres. “They can expect to learn the different treatments available with medical marijuana.”
Those who attend and are candidates for medical marijuana use can purchase their certificate at a discounted rate. The state requires patients have a 210-day certification, which costs $125 at Southern Comfort Medical Marijuana Clinic. To cover the full year, the clinic offers an annual certification for $225. During the Southern Comfort Medical Marijuana Social, patients can receive an annual certification at a discounted rate.
Dr. McCain hopes that fellow doctors in the area will also attend the social to see what she does at her clinic and help dispel some of the stigma still attached to the herb.
She pointed to 25,000 studies worldwide on the effects of medical marijuana on various conditions and slowly increasing acceptance of the drug as a form of treatment.
She said more of her patients are getting notes from their primary care physicians in support of the treatment.
McCain’s husband and clinic CEO Bret McCain said they had to deal with the stigma even while scouting a location for their medical clinic. It took them five tries before they could find a place that would sign a lease.
He said the best way to dispel the stigma is to empower the patients. “They’re treated like lepers,” he said. “They need to know (medical marijuana use is) OK.”
Dr. McCain said she is happy she chose to branch out from her primary care practice – which she still has but remains separate from the clinic.
“This is the most rewarding experience as a medical professional,” Dr. McCain said. She shared anecdotes of numerous patients who have been able to either discontinue or severely cut back the amount of pharmaceuticals – such as opioids – they take.
Along with helping patients directly, she often travels to advocate on their behalf.
“I don’t like to admit when I’m wrong,” her husband said, explaining that he wasn’t exactly thrilled when his wife said this was a business she wanted to pursue.
As the owner and operator of a traffic control solutions company, Bret McCain said he, too, helped save lives – but this, medical marijuana, is “far more rewarding.”
He said his initial fear was that the clients coming to the clinic would be illicit drug users. Instead, he found the patients were those with chronic pain or anxiety.
Dr. McCain meets with each prospective patient and assesses them – triages their condition. When she can, she reviews their medical records.
“I want to help the right people,” she said, and ensure “they’re legit.”
She encourages her patients to discuss medical marijuana use with their primary care physicians as she believes the two practices can be complementary.
The McCains are Fort Pierce natives and said they’re glad they’ve been able to find a home for their clinic in St. Lucie West.
“This is our community and we’re happy to be giving back to it,” Dr. McCain said.
The Southern Comfort Medical Marijuana Clinic is located at 540 NW University Blvd., Unit 202, Port St. Lucie. 772- 218-7262.
