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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom