Florida Medical Cannabis Licenses

Florida Medical Cannabis Licenses

This article was originally featured on the CB Advisors blog.

The state of Florida established a medical marijuana program in 2016. Access to medical cannabis is through state-licensed businesses allowed to grow, manufacture, and sell medical cannabis.

To purchase and have medical cannabis, patients must have an active Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) Identification Card. Qualifying conditions include cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, MS, or medical conditions of the same kind or comparable to those listed. Terminal illnesses and chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a medical condition may also qualify.

There was a limit of twenty-two business licenses allowed for Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC) within the state. One license allows a licensee to open a maximum of twenty-five dispensaries.

The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) is moving forward with administrative rulemaking to form an application process to award up to nineteen more Medical Marijuana Treatment Center licenses. While the OMMU is not currently accepting applications, they are expected to issue the new licenses in the summer of 2022.

Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers are the only business authorized to cultivate, process, and dispense low-THC cannabis and medical marijuana. Each MMTC must receive authorization at three stages before dispensing:

  • Cultivation Authorization
  • Processing Authorization
  • Dispensing Authorization

This expansion of the Florida cannabis industry creates new opportunities for those looking to apply for a license.

How Can Sapphire Risk Help?

Tony Gallo and the team at Sapphire Risk Advisory Group are currently writing applications for the Pigford Black Farmer License (BFL). Follow us on social media to stay up to date with cannabis industry updates!

Authors

Sara Gullickson and Maxime Kot
Sara Gullickson and Maxime Kot

Sara Gullickson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CB Advisors. Sara is an entrepreneur, investor, and corporate dealmaker with more than a decade of experience building and scaling businesses personally and professionally. A high-level strategist, Sara advises stakeholders on corporate structure, financing, and operations to better position their companies for growth and potential exit.

Maxime Kot is the President of CB Advisors. Maxime Kot is president and part owner of national consulting firm The Cannabis Business Advisors. A cannabis licensing and compliance expert with six years of direct industry experience, Kot has built a proven track record securing multiple cannabis licenses across 17 state markets.

If you’re interested in entering the New York or New Jersey recreational marijuana market, contact the CB Advisors team today to start developing your licensing plan and approach. New Jersey license applications are expected to open in Q4 2021 and New York in Q1 2022.