Legislative deal pushes Florida’s medical marijuana program forward, with caveats
By Bart Schaneman
Florida lawmakers agreementon rules for the states full-fledged medical marijuana program would more than double the number of licensed MMJ companies over the next year.
But special caveats would limit the number of entrepreneurs who could get a business license.
The last-minute legislative deal lays the groundwork for lawmakers to take up the MMJ legislation as soon as Thursday during this weeks special session of the legislature.
The compromise bill,unveiled Wednesday after closed-door negotiations between House and Senate lawmakers, would create 10 new vertically integrated medical marijuana businesses or treatment centers that operate cultivation facilities and dispensaries.
Thats on top of the seven licensed business currently operating under Floridas CBD-focused program, making for a total of 17 licenses across the state by July 1, 2018.
The number of new opportunities would be tempered initially, however, because a majority of the new licenses would be earmarked for previous applicants and special business interests such as citrus growers.
It doesnt provide sufficient competition in the market, said Matt Ginder, a Florida-based cannabis attorney. Theyre setting a precedent by creating very large fully integrated medical marijuana treatment centers and limiting the amount of participants.
Still, there would be plenty of new business opportunities for ancillary companies such as attorneys, lighting suppliers, cultivation equipment manufacturers, security firms, transport companies and accountants.
According to theMarijuana Business Factbook 2017
New licenses hinge on patient growth
Looking ahead, the number of new MMJ business licenses will depend on the growth in Floridas patient pool if the new deal on regulations moves forward.
Under the compromise legislation, four new MMJ business licenses would be added for every 100,000 patients who sign up for the program.
According to
MMJ industry advocates generally welcomed the compromise, relieved that lawmakers were able to stitch together an agreement that would give the state health department a blueprint to write rules for the new program by a July 3 deadline. The department must implement the rules by early October.
Lawmakers initially had not included MMJ on their agenda for this weeks special session.
Im glad they finally came to their senses and put it on the agenda, said Ben Pollara, a marijuana advocate based in Florida.Most people, and myself included, were shocked when they called the special session last week and medical marijuana was not included on the original call.
Attorney John Morgan, who played a key role in getting the MMJ amendment on the ballot and passed last November, echoed that view: Theres that saying about having something done is better than perfect. People are counting on something getting done, he told the AP.
Dispensary caps
The new deal also would cap the number of dispensaries per MMJ business at 25. The number of dispensaries could be uppedby five for every 100,000 registered patients added. The cap would expire on April 1, 2020.
The issue of a cap on dispensaries was a key stumbling block for the legislature during the regular session.The House wanted no caps and the Senate wanted to limit each license holder to 15 dispensaries.
Under the bill, each region of the state would ...
