Among the 22 successful applicants is Belushi’s Farm Florida, a team that includes actor Jim Belushi, who operates a cannabis farm in Oregon. An attorney representing the application says Belushi’s Farm is more tailored to recreational markets but is OK with operating in the medical industry.
The health department sent “letters of intent” to the group, but the move sets up what could be lengthy litigation from applicants that missed out on a rare chance to join the state’s medical pot industry.
Weeks after a ballot measure to allow recreational marijuana failed, Florida health officials announced they intend to award medical cannabis licenses to 22 businesses from among dozens that applied more than a year ago.
The move, posted on the Department of Health’s website Tuesday, sets up what could be drawn out litigation from the applicants that missed out on a rare chance to join the state’s medical pot industry.
The health agency’s website identified a list of 22 that received “letters of intent to approve” medical marijuana licenses. The selection comes more than 18 months after the application period closed in April 2023.
The letters of intent do not mean that the selected applicants immediately will receive licenses. At least some of the losing applicants are expected to challenge the health agency’s decisions and lead to further delays.
The health department received 74 applications from businesses that paid $143,000 to apply, but one applicant withdrew.
The state paid consulting firm KPMG nearly $1.79 million to score the applications based on a variety of factors.
The newly approved applicants are:
A Good Decision LLC
Alamanda Farms LLC
East Coast Packers LLC
Florida Sports Consultants, d/b/a Belushi’s Farm Florida
FG Operating LLC;
Gates Housing Group LLC
Global Investment Group Inc., d/b/a Infinite Wellness
Green Point Research LLC
Healing Greene FL LLC
KCOF LLC, d/b/a KLUTCH Cannabis
King Palms Inc.
O’Donnell Landscapes Inc.
Pioneer Growers of Florida Inc.
Pure Beauty Farms Inc.
RAAB LLC, d/b/a Canna Direct
Star Buds Florida LLC
Statewide Property Holdings FL LLC
STIIIZY Florida LLC
Sunfest Herbs LLC
The Flower Shop FL LLC
Theory Wellness of Florida LLC
Wachovia Holdings LLC, d/b/a Greenlight
Belushi’s Farm Florida is part of a team including actor Jim Belushi, who operates a cannabis farm in Oregon.
The licenses are required under a 2017 law that called for boosting the number of licenses as eligible patients ─ which currently exceeds 880,000 ─ increases.
Last year’s round of medical cannabis applications was the first major opportunity for newcomers to the industry to vie for licenses since the 2017 legislation passed. An initial round of licenses was based on a 2014 law that legalized noneuphoric cannabis for a limited number of patients.
The state currently has 25 licensed operators, who run more than 690 dispensaries throughout the state.
The department’s letters this week will likely trigger legal challenges that could stall the final issuance of the licenses for months, if not years.
H/T: health.wusf.usf.edu
