Pubdate: Thu, 02 Oct 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: Phil Latzman
Page: 13A

BUSINESSES LINING UP TO MAKE MONEY ON POT

Recent polls indicate Florida's Amendment 2 to legalize medical 
marijuana right on the cusp of the 60 percent it will need for passage 
next month. Yet, in anticipation of its approval, the jockeying has 
already begun among businesses seeking to profit on this burgeoning 
enterprise.

Educational seminars have sprung up in advance of the Nov. 4 vote. 
Advertisements for companies promoting the business education of pot 
have been splashed in the media everywhere.

Advertising at advance prices below $200, the Green Rush Seminars Series 
is among the least expensive of full day information sharing events. Its 
website offers attendees a chance to "plant a seed and watch it grow" 
with presentations on the history of marijuana advocacy.

Having made previous stops in Tampa and Orlando and coming to Miami this 
weekend, Green Rush partner Larry Kirschenbaum says it is simply about 
spreading awareness, not pushing pot sales. "We're involved in other 
things in the medical marijuana world. We're into the science of it, 
teaching people the medical uses of marijuana. Our product is awareness."

On the other end of the spectrum at $459 for the day, Florida Medical 
Marijuana Treatment Center Institute's website promises "Fortune 
500-caliber marijuana business education" for those looking to make 
their make their future living in the future field. His seminar comes to 
Miami later in the month.

MMTC Founder Daniel Curtis, who calls himself "a serial entrepreneur," 
says his sessions are about education and arming attendees with 
knowledge as soon as possible in the run-up to the vote. "We're on the 
cusp of a multi-hundred billion industry that's going to rise rapidly."

Running his fledgling operation with two partners from a converted condo 
overlooking Biscayne Bay, he calls it an incredible opportunity for 
Floridians to get in early. "[Florida] has a chance for significant 
social and economic change." But Curtis admits there's still mystery 
when it comes to the ways of the medical pot business in Florida if it 
does indeed become law. "The real unknown here is the regulation and how 
it will be done."

Despite the lack of known framework, it's estimated scores of businesses 
are taking the risk, already applying for marijuana licenses. Successful 
companies with a history of doing business in Florida would be allowed 
to distribute based on a state licensed physician's recommendation. 
Opponents worry the State Department of Health, in charge of issuing 
licenses to dispensaries, will be overwhelmed as it attempts to 
implement the law in six months.

Twenty-three other states and the District of Columbia have already 
legalized forms of medical marijuana. Ohio and Pennsylvania have ballot 
initiatives as well next month. Those in favor of Amendment 2's passage 
believe Florida could be the first Southeast domino to fall towards 
medical legalization in the entire region, leading to an even faster 
business expansion.

As chairman of the United For Care Campaign, high powered and 
deep-pocketed Orlando attorney John Morgan has been medical pot's 
biggest proponent. However, after contributing over $4 million of his 
own money in the effort to get the required signatures for the ballot 
initiative, he's reticent of the pro-marijuana education campaign. 
Following an online debate on the measure at the Sun Sentinel last week, 
Morgan warned against jumping in too soon.

"My advice to everyone looking to get in this business is to do 
absolutely nothing [before the election], because there are so many 
crooks and hucksters out there selling seminars and licenses and selling 
the dream." Morgan added, "you'd be better off lighting your cash on fire."

At Green Rush, Kirschenbaum says there are no ulterior motives to his 
sessions beyond advocacy and awareness, and insists he is losing money 
on them so far.

He claims to have only broken even during a trip to Tampa last weekend 
with 65 attendees and had even less booked for a recent Orlando event. 
He's counting on voters in South Florida to put Amendment 2 over the 60 
percent threshold.

"They don't know what our product is. Once the law is passed, we'll 
spread the message."

Phil Latzman is a longtime South Florida journalist. You can email him 
at  follow him on Twitter  and 
listen to him online at http://www.SoundCloud.com/PhilLatzman.
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MAP posted-by: Matt