Florida is on the cusp of significantly expanding its legal cannabis industry by issuing 22 new licenses to medical marijuana operators, a move that could nearly double the current market.
With 74 applications submitted by the April deadline (and one withdrawn) there are currently 73 contenders all vying for one of the 22 available Medical Marijuana Treatment Center licenses — leaving the State Office of Medical Marijuana Use to face the daunting task of reviewing each submission meticulously.
On Dec. 13, Christopher Kimball, the state office director, addressed Florida’s Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee, to inform them that given the formidable challenge, he could not provide a definitive timeline for when the final selection would be made.
“If I rushed them and we get a bad result, we’ll get sued and the people won’t get their licenses,” Kimball said. “So, I want to make sure that we’ve done it right. I don’t have a firm target for you.”
The Office of Medical Marijuana Use employs a detailed scoring system to assess applications that makes securing a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center license in Florida, a highly competitive and intricate process.
But State Rep. Allison Tant pushed Kimball further for some kind of timeline.
“I want you to do it right, but at the same time, I have constituents in this space who are kind of chomping at the bit,” Tant said. “I really need to know what we can do to at least give them some guidelines.”
In response, Kimball said he hoped the decision would be made within six months.
“That would be my hope,” Kimball said. “That’s hope, it’s not a plan, but that’s what I got.”
In 2016, Florida voters overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana, with more than 70% in favor, paving the way for a significant number of Floridians to access medical cannabis. As of November 2023, the state had 862,155 registered medical marijuana patients.
There are currently 24 medical marijuana treatment centers and 603 dispensing facilities operating in Florida.
It’s a lucrative – yet, expensive, business.
In November, the state rejected a petition from Sanctuary Cannabis, which runs 21 dispensaries statewide, challenging the sharp increase in provider renewal fees for 2024—from $60,000 to over $1 million every two years.
Meanwhile, Floridians are actively paving the way to legalize recreational marijuana.
A recent survey by the University of North Florida revealed that nearly 70% of Florida’s registered voters are in favor of a proposed state amendment, which would allow Floridians to buy and hold limited marijuana amounts for personal use without a medical license. A petition in support of the proposition amassed 1,033,769 voter signatures, surpassing the 891,523 required.
The proposal is currently under review by the state Supreme Court, which has until April to decide if it will be included on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot for a statewide vote.
H/T: www.gulflive.com
