Pubdate: Sat, 10 May 2014 Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159 Author: Scott Powers Page: 1D MARIJUANA BILL TOUGH ON GROWERS Only 21 of 7,000 Would Be Eligible Only 21 large, longtime Florida commercial plant growers will be allowed to compete for five state licenses to grow, process and sell medical marijuana products in Florida under the a bill sitting on Gov. Rick Scott's desk. The rules have family-owned landscaping growers wondering if they want to get into the pot field, while some would-be entrepreneurs complain they are being unfairly shut out by state-sanctioned, regional monopolies. Under the new "Charlotte's Web" bill, Florida's new medical marijuana industry would be limited to horticultural growers that have been in business for at least 30 years, are already growing at least 400,000 plants, and have the financial means to start up the new, highly regulated crop. Those requirements were added to make sure any new medical marijuana business in Florida would involve time-tested companies. The Department of Agriculture reports that just 21 Florida companies meet the first two criteria. There are 7,001 nurseries registered in Florida. "Now we are outraged. I mean outraged," said Heather Zabin of Sanford, who had been lining up business partners and drawing plans to start an 800-acre marijuana farm. "This is definitely not allowing me to pursue my business." Because the bill limits the content of THC, the chemical that gets people high, and limits potential patients to those with cancer or uncontrollable seizures or tremors, there are not yet any estimates of how much money the new medical marijuana business might be worth. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom