BRANDON — With various bills pending in the Florida legislature, there is no doubt which side of the medical marijuana debate Barbara Malave-Pfaff supports. The 56-year-old Lakeland resident cut the ribbon at the grand opening event as Surterra Wellness opened its doors at 1256 E Brandon Blvd.

"I want to scream it to the world that this is what you should be doing," said Malave-Pfaff, who suffers from occasional seizures, an arthritic neck, anxiety and forgetfulness stemming from a 1992 car accident that left her with a brain injury and ultimately ended her nursing career. "I don't have to decide between taking a Vicodin and Percocet and being completely out of it and throwing up all day. I enjoy life a lot better. I'm not getting high, I'm getting better."

Founded in 2014, Surterra is one of the largest U.S. providers of medical, wellness and lifestyle cannabis products.

"First and foremost, we are here to help empower the health of individuals through our various cannabis options," said Cynthia Gwede, Women's Community Activist for Surterra. "We're also here to help dispel the stigma around cannabis and provide education to people at any step in their journey."

More than 50 curious residents and qualified patients stopped by during the first hour Surterra Wellness Center opened its doors in Brandon. They were invited to take part in a Terpene aromatic experience by smelling the cannabis products that are possible for ingestion, and they witnessed a $2,000 donation Surterra made to Brandon's Emergency Care Help Organization.

"What we are trying to accomplish is empowering individuals to take control of their wellness," said Levent Hamdemir, Chief Marketing Officer for Surterra Wellness, "and at the end of the day thinking of cannabis as medicine."

Qualifying patients, their families and anyone interested in learning more about cannabis-based treatments are welcome to visit the wellness center or call (850) 391-5455 to speak with a wellness coordinator. Surterra operates 23 Florida locations, including two in Tampa, and grew from 100 to more than 550 employees last year. The company also offers free state-wide, next-day delivery if you don't have a convenient location to visit.