As Florida medical marijuana companies continue to rake in cash, Gov. Ron DeSantis this week said cannabis operators need to pay more for the opportunity to do business in the state.

The state “should charge these people more,” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday.

“I mean, these are very valuable licenses,” the governor said. “I would charge them an arm and a leg. I mean, everybody wants these licenses.”

It was unclear if DeSantis was referring to medical marijuana companies already operating in the state or businesses seeking to gain entry to Florida, which insiders say has the potential to be one of the nation’s most robust cannabis markets.

While DeSantis wants to extract more money from the businesses, the governor helped steer big bucks their way as one of his first legislative pushes after taking office in January 2019.

DeSantis urged lawmakers to repeal a prohibition against smokable marijuana, which the Republican-controlled Legislature had outlawed after voters in 2016 passed a constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana.

The Legislature quickly went along with DeSantis’ request, and whole flower products are now by far the most popular items sold at the more than 460 medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state.

[Read more at Tampa Bay Times]