Hopeful entrepreneurs in Florida packed a meeting with regulators to argue against proposed draft rules for the state’s cannabidiol (CBD) industry.
Several expressed concerns over a proposal to restrict producer/distributor licenses to individuals who have operated plant nurseries for at least 30 years, saying it would take experienced cannabis operators out of the fold. They also took issue with the lottery-style method for choosing applicants that will receive licenses.
“The most qualified companies may not even apply,” Kerry Herndon, a hopeful entrepreneur, said at the meeting, which lasted seven hours.
Others said the system would create monopolies for a handful of suppliers. Bill Pfeiffer, a former state administrative judge who is working with a group of cannabis investors, said businesses should be able to sell their products in multiple locations across the state.
The draft rules envision five licenses for producers/distributors of CBD-based extracts, with each business limited to serving a specific region of Florida.
Regulators must approve final rules by Jan. 1. An official said the health department will hold another workshop in July before finalizing the rules.
