Florida is adding eight more medical marijuana operators to the 14 businesses currently selling cannabis throughout the state. The new additions to Florida’s rapidly growing medical-marijuana industry — projected to generate more than $2.5 billion in annual revenue within five years — come from a pool of applicants that lost out in the first round […]
florida marijuana
Florida lawmakers move to cap THC in smokable medical marijuana
The level of THC would be capped in medical marijuana for smoking, and it would be harder for sick children to get full-strength medical pot, under a House proposal slated for its first vetting Wednesday. The legislation, proposed by House Health & Human Services Chairman Ray Rodrigues, also would set limits on the potency of medical marijuana […]
Florida’s largest medical marijuana operator gets more dispensaries after reaching deal with state
Florida’s largest medical marijuana operator gets more dispensaries after reaching deal with stateState health officials have dropped an appeal of a Tallahassee judge’s ruling and agreed to allow Florida’s largest medical marijuana operator to open more dispensaries than a state law allowed. Quincy-based Trulieve challenged a limit on the number of storefronts that was included […]
As marijuana gets legalized, companies drop THC testing of employees in Florida
At the Ed Morse empire of auto dealerships, testing for THC no longer is part of the hiring process. Ed Morse Automotive Group this month stopped screening for marijuana metabolites before offering positions to job candidates, says Teddy Morse, chairman and chief executive of the 1,200-employee company. Ed Morse Automotive Group still tests for signs of cocaine, heroin and […]
Florida House Rescinds Medical Marijuana Smoking Ban
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ requested that lawmakers repeal the state’s ban on smokable medical marijuana. The Florida House obliged on Wednesday. The Gov vowed to fight the ban through he courts, if necessary; however, Bill SB 182 passed by a landslide 101-11 vote. The bill also passed unanimously in the Senate last week by a vote of 38-0. The “smoking ban” i.e., […]
Medical marijuana smoking ban close to being repealed in Florida
With plenty of breathing room before a March 15 deadline set by Gov. Ron DeSantis, House and Senate leaders are close to doing away with a state ban on smoking medical marijuana. State Sen. Jeff Brandes and state Rep. Ray Rodrigues confirmed Wednesday they’ve reached an accord on a proposal that would allow patients to purchase […]
Two Florida lawmakers push to legalize recreational marijuana
Legal adult use of marijuana could be on the way to Florida, with no prescription necessary. This week, Rep. Carlos Guillermo-Smith, D-Orlando, co-sponsored legislation (HB1117) in the Florida House to recreationalize marijuana in the state along with Rep. Michael Grieco, D-Miami Beach. Under the bill, adults over 21 years of age could possess, use, and transport up […]
Smokable medical marijuana gets the green light from Florida lawmakers
Patients could soon be allowed to smoke medical marijuana — but with pre-rolled joints with filters — under a measure approved by a key state House panel Tuesday. Committees in the House and Senate both advanced legislation to nix Florida’s ban on smoking medical marijuana, following an ultimatum issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis shortly after the Republican took office last month. […]
Florida House balks at total repeal of medical marijuana smoking ban
Florida House leaders have rolled out a proposal that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana, but only after going through what one critic called a “bureaucratic mess of red tape.” The House proposal, released Tuesday afternoon, would require doctors get the approval of a “case review panel” before they could order smokable marijuana for […]
Judge rejects cap on marijuana dispensaries in Florida
Siding with Florida’s largest cannabis operator, a circuit judge for the second time struck down a law capping the number of dispensaries medical marijuana businesses can run. The limit on the number of retail storefronts was included in a 2017 law aimed at carrying out a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana. But Quincy-based Trulieve challenged […]
Ron DeSantis poised to make Florida marijuana changes
With one of his chief advisers tweeting the hashtag “NoSmokeIsAJoke,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he will “very soon” announce changes in how the state is carrying out a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana. DeSantis, a Republican, said many voters believe the state has been “foot dragging” in implementing the amendment, largely bankrolled […]
The Road to Recreational Marijuana in Florida Starts Next Week
When Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis takes office next week, the road to marijuana legalization in Florida begins. Two court appeals that could open up the market and the path to smoking the stuff may be undercut — and a petition drive to put recreational pot on the 2020 ballot will gain steam. An appeals hearing is set for […]
Ruling rejects limits on Florida medical marijuana businesses
In a ruling that could have a revolutionary impact if it stands, a Tallahassee judge has found a law limiting the number of medical marijuana operators in Florida runs afoul of a constitutional amendment approved by voters two years ago. The cap on the number of “medical marijuana treatment centers,” as they are known in Florida law, […]
Florida’s Medical Marijuana Director Abruptly Resigns
Florida medical marijuana director Christian Bax, who has been a frequent target of lawmakers and patients over delays in the program, is stepping down. The Department of Health said on Friday that Bax’s resignation takes effect on Aug. 10. Deputy Director Courtney Coppola has been named the interim director. Bax had led the Office of Medical Marijuana […]
One of Florida’s largest medical marijuana businesses forced to stop processing pot
Surterra, one of the state’s largest medical marijuana treatment centers, has been forced to stop processing cannabis — halting its production of new items — after it failed to meet a food safety inspection deadline in a little-noticed provision of state law last week. The requirement, which mandates that medical marijuana treatment centers complete third-party inspections in […]
Medical Marijuana Drive-Thru Coming To Florida
Medical marijuana patients will have a new option to get their pot. Curaleaf, which has pot retail outlets in Miami-Dade and Lake Worth, will be adding a new store with a drive-thru option in Palm Harbor just northwest of Tampa. The company says it’s the first dispensary in Florida with a drive-thru. The marijuana dispensary will […]
As Marijuana Dispensaries Open Their Doors, Florida Registers 5,400 New Users Per Week
Call it the New Marijuana Math: 91,000 Floridians are buying 56 pounds of pot a week under the orders of 1,400 doctors. A year and a half after an amendment to the state constitution legalized medical marijuana, the fledgling industry is finally starting to show some muscle. “On the one hand, we should have been […]
Despite Decriminalization, Miami Cops Make 40 Marijuana Arrests During Urban Beach Week
As night descended on Lummus Park this past Sunday, the smell of pot along the sidewalk was thicker than the salty ocean air. Perched on a coquina rock barrier, 20-year-old Bianca Plummer rolled a blunt with a few thimblefuls of pot. But before the young woman dressed in shorts and a black swimsuit could light […]
