Folio Weed

Words by Shelton Hull

Easter Sunday falls on 4/20 this year, and what better pregame could you have for that than 

Cannabash 2025: Journey to the Emerald City, which takes place at the Emerald Station April 19 from 2-10 p.m.? Located near the intersection of Liberty and 14th Street in Springfield, the event includes food and drink, demonstrations and freebies, talks and consultations with industry professionals, and music from Caleb Joye and DJ Dr. Doom from 93.3 FM. Heck, I’ll be there, too, so come say hello!

Cannabash events have been happening all over the city since about 2018. After pausing for 2020 and 2021, they resumed in 2022. Last year’s event was held at Havana Jax, drawing over 1,000 people. This year will be their first event at the Emerald Station, which is a key component of the Phoenix Arts District. “They just opened, and we did not want to miss this opportunity for partnership,” says Dr. Rene Pulido, who has owned and operated the event’s main sponsor, Emed Multispecialty Group, since 2010. “It is long needed in Jacksonville, very professional and a great opportunity for up-and-comers who work in art.”

General admission tickets are just $10, but admission is free for anyone with a medical marijuana card. At this point, it seems that everyone and their mother (my mother, anyway) already has their med card by this point, but activity in that regard has spiked in recent weeks. New applications tapered down a bit last year because everyone assumed that Amendment 3 would pass. But that’s a whole other story, and you read that last month.

I spoke with Dr. Pulido just the other day, and here are the highlights of that discussion.

How many patients have medical marijuana cards in Jacksonville?

Unknown! I looked for that number but could not find it. 

How many doctors are licensed here to prescribe the cards, and how does that compare to Florida in general?

I am one of about 90 in Jacksonville. Overall, 2,181 Doctors can currently prescribe in Florida.

What made you focus on cannabis as part of your medical practice?

I was always a critic, but when I got my license for my cancer patients I was not prepared for the unbelievable benefits and it grew from there. Now, we are the largest medical marijuana card provider for northeast Florida.

How has your specialization in the cannabis field impacted your overall business, and in particular your skills and connections as a doctor?

I believe that treating people with cannabis has greatly expanded my knowledge of medicine, especially holistic care. It reminds doctors that medicine used to be a calling before it was hijacked by large insurance and pharmaceutical companies. 

How do you assess the current situation with the cannabis scene after Amendment 3? 

This is a crazy time when it comes to politics, and I am frequently torn for what is best for our population. I like the idea of having more access for the people, but at the same time, I don’t want the system to be taken advantage of. Like, for example, I don’t want this treatment in the hands of minors who don’t have medical issues.

How closely are the doctors in this field locally and statewide networked with each other? That is, to what extent are the doctors involved in the political aspects of the scene, particularly in terms of legalization? 

My family tries to do as much networking as possible. For example, my brothers Dr. Mario Pulido, chief medical officer for St. Vincent’s, and Dr. Danny Pulido, head of the ICU for Baptist Beaches, hosted a family-oriented day for the Duval County Medical Society recently. Like many other aspects of politics, there is a lot of polarization when it comes to the legalization of the recreational use of cannabis.

4/20 is on Easter Sunday. What are your plans for the day? 

4/20 is a relaxed day for my family but we DO plan to celebrate 4/20 on 4/19!