Florida Cannabis Business Consulting

Cannabis in the form of medical marijuana and hemp has been legalized in Florida over a relatively short time.

Get Started

Cannabis Consulting in Florida

Future changes to Florida’s legal marijuana licensing programs will surely influence the entire cannabis industry in the state. The short, eventful history of Florida cannabis regulation indicates future changes are soon to come, and growing support for cannabis may soon lead to the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Florida cannabis business consulting services can be valuable in long-term strategy planning, as well as adjusting to changing regulations. Gateway Proven Strategies (GPS) provides cannabis business consulting in Florida for new and established businesses and helps clients with professional and industry-specific services in the cannabis industry.

Medical Marijuana & Hemp Legalization In Florida

Cannabis in the form of medical marijuana and hemp has been legalized in Florida over a relatively short time. While steadily progressing towards regulation, this has happened in intervals as lawmakers approach the cannabis industry with cautious optimism.

APPLYING FOR A MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSE IN FLORIDA

Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) in the state. A limited number of licenses are issued, however, applicants who plan for future changes in license capacity will be better prepared once licenses become available. Licensed medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs) must pass a grading system established by the state and provide documentation of the production and dispensing capabilities of a business. This system creates the requirement for vertically integrated cannabis businesses of relatively large size, details of which can be found on the state’s FAQ for Medical Marijuana Business. While current rules prevent small and specialty medical cannabis businesses from acquiring licenses, future legislation could change these requirements, opening the door for smaller marijuana operations in Florida and reinforcing the value of cannabis business consulting for your Florida business.

Florida Cannabis Licenses FAQs

Florida Medical Cannabis License

Medical patients must currently have one of the following conditions to apply for a Medical Marijuana license:

  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those above
  • A terminal condition
  • Chronic nonmalignant pain

Patients are also required to be a Florida resident, be entered into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry, and obtain a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card. Further instructions can be found on the OMMU website.

Doctors who prescribe medical marijuana are required to take an 8-hour course administered by the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association to meet medical qualification requirements, as well as being board-certified physicians. While public consumption of marijuana remains illegal, medical marijuana laws make it possible for hospice care facilities to allow marijuana use, which could be especially helpful for terminally ill patients.

Hemp Growing Licenses in Florida

The Florida Department of Agriculture issues cultivation licenses for hemp cannabis (cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC) as well as a variety of other permits for extraction and product sales and manufacturing.

In 2019 Florida legislators passed Senate Bill 1020, regulating and allowing industrial hemp production and sales. Since the adoption of industrial hemp over 18,000 acres of hemp have been approved.

With significantly lower application fees and integration requirements, hemp cultivation and sales have become an alternative path for smaller businesses entering the Florida cannabis market.