FLORIDA CANNABIS PROGRAM
FLORIDA
STATE STATUS
The state of Florida legalized medical cannabis in 2016 through a Ballot initiative, Amendment 2, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment. Access to medical cannabis is through state-licensed businesses that are allowed to grow, manufacture and sell medical cannabis.
Hemp
Yes
Medical Marijuana
Yes
Adult-Use Marijuana
No
Now
April 24-28, 2023
FLORIDA MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSES
Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) – can grow medical cannabis plants; extract, process and produce medical cannabis products; sell wholesale to other licensed Cannabis Businesses; and dispense to registered patients. There is a limit of twenty-two (22) business licenses allowed for Florida MMTCs within the state, One (1) MMTC license allows a licensee to open up to twenty-five (25) dispensaries.
Florida health regulators recently announced that the state is preparing to potentially double the number of licenses available for medical marijuana treatment centers by allowing up to 22 additional licenses to operate. The application process opens April 24 and closes April 28. The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) recently issued Emergency Rule 64ER22-9, which will significantly alter application review and associated fees.
HOW TO START A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN FLORIDA
To obtain a marijuana business license in Florida, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, some of the plans you will need to include the following:
- Security Plan.
- Environmental Impact Plan.
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan.
- Business History Plan.
- Financial Plan.
- Community Benefits Plan.
- Research Plan.
- Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan.
- Labor Compliance Plan.
- Staffing and Training Plan.
ENHANCED OVERVIEW OF MARIJUANA IN FLORIDA
The state of Florida legalized medical cannabis in 2016 through a Ballot initiative, Amendment 2, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment. Access to medical cannabis is through state-licensed businesses allowed to grow, manufacture and sell medical cannabis.
The application requires the applicant to provide real estate, various operational plans, and a Medical Director (must be a licensed Florida Physician). The applicant must be registered to do business in Florida for the previous 5 consecutive years, and have a current and valid certificate of registration issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (DACS), also known as a nursery.
FLORIDA CANNABIS PROGRAM TIMELINE
2014 – Florida legalized low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis
2015 – First Florida low-THC, high-CBD business opened
2016 – Florida expanded their medical cannabis program allowing for higher THC within medical cannabis products
2019 – Florida issued an additional eight (8) MMTCs
April 24, 2023 – The application process opens for additional 22 MMTC licenses.
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Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner"Sara reduced much of the management team’s stress by her knowledge, execution, resolving conflicts, and firm but confident approach."
Chairman, Solevo Wellness"Sara’s success speaks for itself. Our company continues to engage Sara for ongoing consulting and her advice remains solid and relevant to our growth."
Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner