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Florida Court Rules Vertical Integration Is Unconstitutional - Are Big Changes Coming To The Sunshin
Source: Forbes
Jul 26, 2019, 05:06am
Florida Court Rules Vertical Integration Is Unconstitutional – Are Big Changes Coming To The Sunshine State's Cannabis Industry Or Will Big Marijuana Prevail?
Sara Brittany Somerset Contributor
Vices
I cover marijuana, global affairs and the intersection of the two.
There might be some significant changes coming to the Florida cannabis industry as a Florida court rules that vertical integration is "unconstitutional." This ruling comes four months after the Florida House rescinded a ban on smoking medical marijuana. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' reversed his position and walked back his stance on vertical integration.
A timeline of Florida's pot politics
In January, newly-appointed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' dropped a bombshell announcement to drop his predecessor’s appeal against legalizing cannabis flower for medical marijuana patients. His surprise announcement contained a largely unreported nugget that he is also in favor of getting rid of vertical integration for licensed cannabis operators in the state. Doing so would allow for individually licensed cannabis businesses instead. Governor DeSantis’ remarks about wanting to eliminate vertical integration came as a shock to most, considering Florida’s historical stance on limited cannabis licensing in the state.
"The way they did this vertical integration is not (based on) free market principles," said the Governor.
In March, the Florida House rescinded the medical marijuana smoking ban. On March 12, the Florida Medical Marijuana Legislative Policy Conference, at Florida State University Conference Center, decided that it is better for the Sunshine State and the environment to have an open hemp program. The hemp program is regulated much differently than the marijuana program. Florida’s hemp program does not have any license caps. Anyone who wants to participate can apply for a license for industrial hemp or CBD consumption. Additionally, several other cannabis bills were pending in Florida.
On May 3, leading politicians gathered in South Florida to discuss potential modifications to the state's marijuana laws.
On July 9, Florida's 1st District Court of Appeal nixed the laws that created a “vertically integrated business model” for distributing medical marijuana.
-snip-
Florida Court Rules Vertical Integration Is Unconstitutional – Are Big Changes Coming To The Sunshine State's Cannabis Industry Or Will Big Marijuana Prevail?
Sara Brittany Somerset Contributor
Vices
I cover marijuana, global affairs and the intersection of the two.
There might be some significant changes coming to the Florida cannabis industry as a Florida court rules that vertical integration is "unconstitutional." This ruling comes four months after the Florida House rescinded a ban on smoking medical marijuana. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' reversed his position and walked back his stance on vertical integration.
A timeline of Florida's pot politics
In January, newly-appointed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' dropped a bombshell announcement to drop his predecessor’s appeal against legalizing cannabis flower for medical marijuana patients. His surprise announcement contained a largely unreported nugget that he is also in favor of getting rid of vertical integration for licensed cannabis operators in the state. Doing so would allow for individually licensed cannabis businesses instead. Governor DeSantis’ remarks about wanting to eliminate vertical integration came as a shock to most, considering Florida’s historical stance on limited cannabis licensing in the state.
"The way they did this vertical integration is not (based on) free market principles," said the Governor.
In March, the Florida House rescinded the medical marijuana smoking ban. On March 12, the Florida Medical Marijuana Legislative Policy Conference, at Florida State University Conference Center, decided that it is better for the Sunshine State and the environment to have an open hemp program. The hemp program is regulated much differently than the marijuana program. Florida’s hemp program does not have any license caps. Anyone who wants to participate can apply for a license for industrial hemp or CBD consumption. Additionally, several other cannabis bills were pending in Florida.
On May 3, leading politicians gathered in South Florida to discuss potential modifications to the state's marijuana laws.
On July 9, Florida's 1st District Court of Appeal nixed the laws that created a “vertically integrated business model” for distributing medical marijuana.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarabrittanysomerset/2019/07/26/florida-court-rules-vertical-integration-is-unconstitutional--are-big-changes-coming-to-the-sunshine-states-cannabis-industry-or-will-big-marijuana-prevail/
