Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s administration appealed a judge’s order to license new businesses in one of the country’s hottest medical marijuana markets – or risk being held in contempt.
Scott’s administration filed the notice to appeal Friday less than three hours before a 5 p.m. ET deadline, the News Service of Florida reported.
The governor, who is in a tight race to unseat U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, consulted with Republican legislators and MMJ operators, according to the news service.
Here’s the situation:
- Leon County Circuit Charles Dodson recently ruled the state law restricting the number of medical marijuana businesses is unconstitutional.
- Florida has approved licenses for 14 vertically integrated MMJ operators, each of which can open up to 25 dispensaries across the state. But the state has been slow to approve additional licenses.
- The judge’s ruling called for the state to license additional MMJ operators, including Tampa-based Florigrown, which was the plaintiff in the case.
- The judge’s ruling, if upheld, would open Florida’s market to more MMJ businesses and boost competition. “Obviously the current license holders want to protect their interests and value, which is based on this limited licensing scheme,” Florida cannabis attorney Matthew Ginder of Greenspoon Marder told Marijuana Business Daily.
U.S. cannabis companies willing to work at it will find ample opportunities to raise money.
Open the market you greedy [email protected]&?*#%!
What a scam you politicians did for your buddies this time. 14 growers with 20 million people in the state.
Slimey and dis-honest as usual Tallahassee.
They don’t want us to have choices and more shops would lower prices. In this country that’s called fair competition.
You know they mark up 100%? I saw that on my invoice. Wth? Definitely need to allow more.
YOU CAN ALSO OPEN THE MARKET TO OUT OF STATE PATIENTS, MORE COMPETION.
The GREED that this governor has displayed since he has purposely slowed and hand picked who he thought would pull the wool over our eyes has backfired to the max. We as Floridians saw the game he decided to play. GREED never wins it’s just another sin and the next few months we will have FULL integration.
The few that have licenses, Trulieve and Liberty Health will benefit.
Does any state have a cannabis control board (whatever they call it) that has NOT screwed up legal access? Maybe Colorado?
Helping his buddys what a peice of trash legalize marijuana for all !! We see your game helping buddy so much for free market and let people prosper !
The only way to get these politicians attention is to move to out them or indict them
Some of Florida’s finite number of MMTC licenses have been purchased for upwards of $100million. That price point was to purchase exclusivity. If Florida allows for Judge Dodson’s ruling, those who paid $100million for a license will have wasted their money, (since anyone can compete). That said, those who spent big money purchasing MMTC license exclusivity likely passed big $$$ to Rick Scott’s Senate campaign to appeal Judge Dodson’s ruling.
Omg, Scott has got to go! Greedy @$?+-#!
They need to just legalize it already this is all about money when it comes down to it. Let the people get there medication you will still make billions so what the hell you waiting for!
Open market for capitalism as the Constitution declares. Lift ban on the plant. It is ridiculous to be told we cannot grow a plant in a pot in our home that is less an impact than beer. Talk about Govt invasion! Federal legislation must change!!!!
Show scott how corrupt he is by your vote.VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE!!!
The Medical Marijuana. LICENCING of this industry has already squeezed out any competition for budding entrepreneurs. You already must be a multimillionaire in your way to becoming even more wealthy. There are talented organic growers who would like to be in the business… maybe earn a couple of hundred thousand a year… have a business for our families to participate in and a livelihood. OPEN UP LICENCES TO ORDINARY GROWERS. It’s only FAIR