At a recent gathering in Boston that was focused on creating an equitable cannabis industry, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) got specific on how to do that.
“We know that legalization alone is not enough,” Sen. Warren said in a prerecorded video for the Saturday meeting organized by the Massachusetts-based Parabola Center for Law and Policy. “We need to ensure that the communities most harmed by the war on drugs are at the front of the line for reaping the benefits of legalization and we need to legalize in a way that avoids Big Tobacco and alcohol corporations or retail giants from dominating the cannabis market.”
Warren echoed Parabola’s take on the topic. “Already, aspiring weed billionaires and powerful corporations like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Altria (NYSE: MO) (aka Philip Morris) are hounding Congress to pass bills that would let them be the first to profit from federal legalization— leaving behind small business owners and the many communities that were torn apart by decades of over-policing.”
Amazon recently released a statement reiterating its support for federal cannabis legalization.
Warren, however, is “deeply skeptical that Amazon’s lobbying is anything more than a self-interested move to monopolize yet another market, potentially blocking Black and Latino entrepreneurs from an emerging industry,” reported Marijuana Moment
“Now is the time to get creative and think big about how we can ensure fairness and competition in the cannabis industry,” Warren said “Right now, we have the rare opportunity to shape how a new industry develops from the ground up. And that means we have the chance to avoid repeating the same old story of corporations crowding out small businesses and dominating markets.”
The event was also attended by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s, Harvard’s Dr. Peter Grinspoon as well as cannabis regulators from Massachusetts, NYC, Washington, D.C., the Drug Policy Alliance, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition and more organizations.
The Parabola Center
Founded by its current director Shaleen Title a former Massachusetts cannabis regulator, the Parabola Center is a nonpartisan think tank of legal professionals and drug policy experts coming together to protect people, not corporations. The organization’s mission is to provide “everyone with the education, access, and expertise to support cannabis legalization policies that put people and small businesses first.”
We, at Inspirational Technologies are at the forefront of Inspirational and Frontrunners on the frontier of current technology.
We are often faced with our own personal conflicts which directly influence our interactions with our peers and family.
When Inspirational Technologies is an endorsement of the “Cannabis” approach to the medical condition, we say, let’s let the look at the data and the people who say that they benefit for cannabis alternatives.
1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2021-2023)Inspirational Technologies (2023) AllRightsReservedYour ONE STOP BLOG FOR INFORMATION, EDUCATION, & INSPIRATION OF ESSENTIAL INNOVATION & RENOVATION of You-THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST*This site receives virtually no compensation for sales of some or all mentioned products. We however place humanitarian value over monetary interests. Our monetary income goes back into research, development, discovery and healing.Inspirational Technologies – is Committed to Your Health Wellness Beauty and EnrichmentReporting on Today’s Internal Botanical and Skin Product Benefits
4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to “Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned.
Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the
4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“.
Cannabis CBD and Me Inspirational Technologies Inspirational Technologies (2014) @Inspire123tech Background Noise Studios Logos bySteven M Smith
When Nevada legalized in January 2017, it created a problem. The state made it legal to possess cannabis, but it did not change the rules regarding where you could smoke it.
Currently, the law only allows people to smoke marijuana in a private residence. Hotel rooms don’t count as private residences and, since most Las Vegas/Las Vegas Strip hotel rooms have associated casinos, federal law would prohibit allowing consumption.
Basically, that created a situation where people could buy smokable marijuana at countless dispensaries located near (but not on) the Las Vegas Strip, but could not legally smoke it. That forced people into alleys, parking lots, and other sites along the Strip.
The reality is that the city’s police won’t arrest someone simply for violating the public consumption laws so people smoke wherever they can. Some are more subtle than others, but the Las Vegas Strip generally smells like marijuana and that’s not really the image Caesars Entertainment (CZR) MGM Resorts International (MGM) and other casino operators want.
Essentially, Las Vegas has legal alcohol without legal bars. A new Nevada law allowing consumption lounges will change that and the first legal cannabis consumption lounges have been approved.
Las Vegas Cannabis Leader Opening Consumption Lounge
Planet 13 (PLNHF) operates the largest dispensary in Nevada and it’s a very impressive facility that offers a restaurant and coffee shop along with the dispensary. There’s nothing cannabis-oriented about the coffee shop or the restaurant, but both are world-class in a city where standards are already high (no pun intended).
The licensees must receive approval through their local jurisdictions and undergo a final inspection before opening,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Work was underway at Planet 13 in early May even though the company did not know when it would legally be allowed to open.
Planet 13 has not finalized its concept as company representatives shared during a May tour of the facility that the bar model was not fully applicable. Bars sell multiple drinks and make more money the longer someone stays. That may not be how things work in a cannabis consumption lounge.
The company’s General Counsel Leighton Koehler told the Cannabis Compliance Board that the company is considering several pathways, ranging from a “modest tasting lounge to a nightclub concept,” according to the paper.
“It’s a strict business, pencil out the math (decision) — we’re still looking at that and trying to decide how much it costs to implement,” Koehler said during the meeting.
No timetable has been given for any of the three lounges to open. Planet 13 expects the zoning review process to take several months, according to the Review-Journal.
Planet 13 is now Opening its 4th Florida Location.
Other Las Vegas News –
The Artisan Hotel – Soon To Be Called The “Lexi”
The off-Strip boutiqueArtisan Hotelat Sahara Avenue and Interstate 15 was purchased in 2022 by Elevation Hotels and Resorts. The property will be renamed the Lexi and turned into a cannabis-friendly hotel.
No specific opening date has been announced, the first-of-its-kind for Las Vegas is expected to open in April. The 64-room hotel will have a floor of rooms with sophisticated air filtration, as well as no carpets, heavy drapes, or other materials known for absorbing smoke.
“We definitely want to create a more elevated experience,” Elevation CEO Alex Rizk toldTravel Weekly. “We are cannabis-inclusive but not cannabis-centric. We want all people, whether they want to partake or not, to feel welcome and really destigmatize the use of cannabis.”
We, at Inspirational Technologies are at the forefront of Inspirational and Frontrunners on the frontier of current technology.
We are often faced with our own personal conflicts which directly influence our interactions with our peers and family.
When Inspirational Technologies is an endorsement of the “Cannabis” approach to the medical condition, we say, let’s let the look at the data and the people who say that they benefit for cannabis alternatives.
1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2021-2023)Inspirational Technologies (2023) AllRightsReservedYour ONE STOP BLOG FOR INFORMATION, EDUCATION, & INSPIRATION OF ESSENTIAL INNOVATION & RENOVATION of You-THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST*This site receives virtually no compensation for sales of some or all mentioned products. We however place humanitarian value over monetary interests. Our monetary income goes back into research, development, discovery and healing.Inspirational Technologies – is Committed to Your Health Wellness Beauty and EnrichmentReporting on Today’s Internal Botanical and Skin Product Benefits
4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to “Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned.
Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the
4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“.
Cannabis CBD and Me Inspirational Technologies Inspirational Technologies (2014) @Inspire123tech Background Noise Studios Logos bySteven M Smith
Does Florida Require Marijuana Growers to Obtain Cultivation License?
Yes. The State of Florida requires marijuana growers to obtain cultivation licenses before they can legally grow marijuana. However, the cultivation license is bundled with marijuana treatment center licenses and is not issued exclusively. Per Florida Statutes Section 381.986, only licensed medical marijuana treatment centers (MTC) may cultivate marijuana in the state. The Florida Department of Health issues marijuana treatment center licenses. Florida’s MTC licenses permit organizations to grow, process, transport, and dispense low-THC cannabis, medical cannabis, and engage in cannabis delivery devices. At the inception of the MTC program, the Department of Health licensed only ten new marijuana treatment centers. Currently, it issues four new licenses for every 100,000 new medical marijuana patients that register with the state’s medical marijuana program. It is illegal to grow marijuana on private residential properties in the State of Florida.
This year 2023, over 900,000 Florida Residents signed Recreational Cannabis approval, now placing a new Florida law before the 2024 vote.
Per state laws, Florida requires all medical marijuana treatment centers to show the technical and technological ability to grow marijuana. They are also required to prove the ability to secure their premises and hire appropriate personnel needed to grow marijuana. MTCs must equally maintain accountability for all raw material, finished products, and other byproducts to prevent unlawful access or diversion. The medical marijuana treatment centers are only permitted to make bulk purchases of marijuana if they can convince the Department of Health that their harvest failed.
Several rules apply to MTC when cultivating marijuana in Florida. These include:
Pesticides used for growing marijuana must be approved by the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and have proven to be safe and for human consumption.
Marijuana must be grown in an enclosed space with restricted access and separate from other plants.
Marijuana plants must be treated and fumigated, while infected plants must be removed and destroyed.
What Are the Different Types of Cultivation Licenses in Florida?
Florida has only one type of marijuana cultivation license, which comes bundled with the MTC license. MTC licenses permit MTC to grow marijuana on the state-recommended scale. Licensed MTCs in Florida practice vertical integration. As such, they must cultivate, process, and transport their marijuana products.
Happy Father’s Day from Inspirational Technologies
Who Can Grow Marijuana in Florida?
Licensed marijuana treatment centers are the only legal entities permitted to grow marijuana in the State of Florida. As stipulated in Florida Statutes Section 381.986, only qualified staff above 21 years who have passed a level 2 background check in line with the state laws are permitted to work in marijuana treatment centers. Generally, staff of MTC’s do not require special permits to grow marijuana. However, the MTCs are required to provide appropriate training on the cultivation and handling of marijuana and marijuana products to their staff. Florida does not permit felons or individuals with prior criminal records to work in a marijuana treatment center.
How to Get a Marijuana Cultivation License in Florida
To obtain a marijuana cultivation license, interested parties must apply for an MTC license as this is the only license in Florida that permits a marijuana business to cultivate marijuana.
Per Section 381.986(8)(a), F.S., the Department of Health is responsible for issuing licenses to marijuana treatment centers. To apply for an MTC license, an applicant must complete the Application for Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Registration Form and submit it to the Department of Health for processing. MTC licenses are issued biennially and applicants must adhere to the application’s requirements, blind grading, format, and organization as prescribed on the application form. Completed applications must be submitted with the following:
A non-refundable application fee of $60,830
A written proof from the Florida Department of State or Department of Revenue confirming that the applicant has a Florida registered business that has existed for at least five years. The applicant’s name on the application must match the name on any such supporting documentation.
A list of the owners, managers, officers, and board members together with the date of their most recent Level-2 background check within one year of the application
Completed license application forms and supporting documentation should be hand-delivered to:
The Department of Health
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The Department of Health will review submitted applications and then notify applicants with incomplete applications within 15 days of receiving the applications. Applicants with incomplete documentation are required to provide any missing document within five days of receiving such notifications.
If an applicant’s documentation is complete, the application is forwarded to subject matter experts for review and scoring. A team of seven subject matter experts in different relevant fields will then review and score relevant sections of the application. These experts will analyze, evaluate, and score applications using the Scorecard for Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Selection Form. Subject matter experts involved in this process include:
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree holder in agriculture, horticulture, or agronomy
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in chemistry, biology, or biochemistry
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in industrial engineering, supply chain management, or strategic management
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in a field related to running a business in a highly regulated environment
Individuals with at least two years of management experience in a health-care-related firm
Individuals with active CPA licenses or current law licenses and experience in business structuring
Each applicant’s score from each section is added to give the applicant’s overall score. Applicants who do not pass the background check or meet the minimum scores for cultivation, processing, marijuana dispensing, security, or general operations, will not be included in the final application ranking. Per Section 381.986(8)(a)3., F.S., applicants with facilities used for canning, concentrating, or processing of citrus fruits will receive 35 additional points.
Licenses are issued to applicants who:
Have been registered to operate a business in Florida for at least five years before the license application
Can show the ability to develop and produce marijuana, including but not limited to low-THC cannabis, on a technical and technological level.
Can show the capacity to procure the appropriate facilities, resources, and hire employees to run a medical marijuana treatment facility.
Have the ability to keep track of all raw materials, completed products, and byproducts to avoid diversion or unauthorized access to or ownership of these substances.
Have a system in place to deliver marijuana to certified patients who have registered.
Can show proof of financial ability to continue operations for a 2-year approval cycle, including providing certified financial statements to the department.
Under Section 381.986(8)(a)2, F.S., 10 licenses are to be issued at the start of the medical marijuana treatment center program. The law requires that priority be given to the following categories of applicants:
An applicant whose application was reviewed, analyzed, and scored by the department but was denied a marijuana dispensing organization license by the department under former Florida Statutes 2014 shall be licensed by the department if:
The applicant had one or more administrative or judicial challenges pending as of January 2017
The applicant shows the department that it has the required infrastructure, technical, and technological capabilities to start cultivating marijuana within 30 days of registration for a medical marijuana treatment center.
Preference is given to applicants that qualify to be licensed and demonstrate in their applications that they own facilities used for the canning, concentrating, or processing of citrus fruit. If two applicants score an equal number of points in the evaluation, the applicant with the highest score in Financials – certified documents, Financials – Business Structure, Diversity Plan, and Accountability- Operations in order of priority is selected.
Once a license application has been approved, the applicant must within ten days:
Post a performance bond, provide an irrevocable letter of credit to the department or provide financial assurance to the tune of $5 million.
Provide proof to back up any statements made in the application about property ownership and leases.
How Much Do Marijuana Cultivation Licenses Cost in Florida?
Florida marijuana cultivation license is bundled with the MTC license. The MTC license permits interested parties to grow, process, and dispense medical use marijuana in the state. MTC licenses are reviewed and renewed every two years for $60,830.
Can Licensed Marijuana Cultivators Hold Other Cannabis Licenses in Florida?
Yes. Generally, the MTC license permits license holders to grow marijuana in Florida. It also allows them to process, produce, retail, and dispense marijuana in the state. However, MTC license holders are not permitted to operate marijuana testing centers.
We, at Inspirational Technologies are at the forefront of Inspirational and Frontrunners on the frontier of current technology.
We are often faced with our own personal conflicts which directly influence our interactions with our peers and family.
When Inspirational Technologies is an endorsement of the “Cannabis” approach to the medical condition, we say, let’s let the look at the data and the people who say that they benefit for cannabis alternatives. Inspirational Technologies (2023) InspirationalTech.org for your Health Wellness Beauty and Inspirational Goals
For More Information on Cannabis and CBD and YOU. Click On the Following Link
1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2021-2023) Inspirational Technologies (2023) AllRightsReserved Your ONE STOP BLOG FOR INFORMATION, EDUCATION, & INSPIRATION OF ESSENTIAL INNOVATION & RENOVATION of You- THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST *This site receives virtually no compensation for sales of some or all mentioned products. We however place humanitarian value over monetary interests. Our monetary income goes back into research, development, discovery and healing. Inspirational Technologies – is Committed to Your Health Wellness Beauty and EnrichmentReporting on Today’s Internal Botanical and Skin Product Benefits
4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to “Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned. Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the 4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“. Cannabis CBD and Me Inspirational Technologies Inspirational Technologies (2014) @Inspire123tech Background Noise Studios Logos bySteven M Smith
Florida recreational marijuana effort now underway, after Trulieve leads efforts to Legalize in 2024.
While it still faces a Florida Supreme Court review and an expected legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody, amendment supporters heralded the breakthrough.
Smart & Safe announced in March it had collected more than 1 million petition signatures but they had not been certified by local election officials at that time.
The Department of State on Thursday updated its website to show the most recent number of signatures that were validated.
Ashley Moody, who opposed a proposed 2022 marijuana legalization ballot measure, in May forwarded the proposed 2024 amendment to the Florida Supreme Court for review.
By BRUCE RITCHIE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida crossed a major hurdle but still faces a likely challenge from the state’s attorney general.
Florida’s Department of State reported that the proposed ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana gathered enough signatures to put it on the ballot in 2024.
The constitutional amendment, proposed by Smart & Safe Florida, gathered 967,528 valid signatures — more than 70,000 above the requirement to reach the ballot. Smart & Safe through April had spent $38.4 million to get the new measure on the ballot — all paid for by medical marijuana giant Trulieve Inc.
While it still faces a Florida Supreme Court review and an expected legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody, amendment supporters heralded the breakthrough.
“We are thrilled the campaign has made this milestone and look forward to seeing this initiative on the ballot next November,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said Thursday in a statement.
Moody’s office did not immediately provide a comment in response to a request.
The proposal would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to three ounces of marijuana for personal use. Medical marijuana treatment centers, which were legalized by a statewide referendum in 2016, would be allowed to sell marijuana for recreational use.
Moody, who opposed a proposed 2022 marijuana legalization ballot measure, in May forwarded the proposed 2024 amendment to the Florida Supreme Court for review.
Moody stated in her letter that she’d argue the proposal doesn’t comply with state law, which includes a requirement that it contain “clear and unambiguous language.” Briefs in the case are due July 12, 2023.
If it makes it on the ballot, the marijuana legalization proposal could boost voter turnout — particularly among young voters — and possibly influence the 2024 races in Florida. Former President Donald Trump carried Florida in 2016 and 2020 but the state backed Democrat Barack Obama in the two previous presidential elections.
Twenty-one states have legalized recreational marijuana use while 37 have approved medical marijuana in some form. It remains illegal at the federal level.
Trulieve, which now has 186 retail dispensaries across 11 states, has pinned its growth hopes on Florida, its home state and the third-most-populous state in the nation. The company recently opened two dispensaries in Georgia, where the medical market is just getting off the ground.
“Our investment demonstrates our firm belief that Floridians are ready to experience the freedom to use cannabis for personal consumption; a freedom which is currently enjoyed by more than half of America’s adults,” Rivers said.
Smart & Safe announced in March it had collected more than 1 million petition signatures but they had not been certified by local election officials at that time. The Department of State on Thursday updated its website to show the most recent number of signatures that were validated.
Trulieve, which now has 186 retail dispensaries across 11 states, has pinned its growth hopes on Florida, its home state and the third-most-populous state in the nation. The company recently opened two dispensaries in Georgia, where the medical market is just getting off the ground.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Recreational marijuana could soon be a reality in Florida.
Nearly a million verified voters have signed onto an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults in Florida. That’s enough to get the issue on the ballot in 2024.
CBS12’s News Dylan Huberman reports on if recreational marijuana use will be legalized in Florida. (WPEC)
However, the state’s supreme court could still nix the measure, as they did in 2021.
Even if it survives a legal challenge and makes the ballot next November, the measure would still need 60 percent of the vote to pass. Some Treasure Coast residents are optimistic it will.
“It’s got a fighting chance or a relatively marginal chance,” opined John Montrey.
The state’s supreme court has blocked cannabis legalization measures before though, and some fear it could happen again.
“Questionable if it’ll make it or not, to me,” admitted Port St. Lucie resident Greg Rodgers.
If Safe & Smart Florida’s measure survives the court – and 60 percent of voters OK it on the ballot – those old enough to drink alcohol could recreationally use and possess a few ounces of it.
“It has in other parts of the country and I think it will be legalized here,” Missie Dunham shared.
Rooted Zen Healthcare in Port St. Lucie prescribes medical marijuana cards, and owner Christine Torres wants marijuana to become more widely available.
“Marijuana shouldn’t even be where it’s at now, it’s a plant, it should be accessible to everybody,” Torres remarked. “Anybody should be able to use it for whatever needs they seem necessary.”
Will recreational marijuana use be legalized in Florida? (WPEC)
Residents in Port St. Lucie seem to be in favor of legalizing it.
“If somebody wants to and they’re over 18, and it doesn’t affect their driving, doesn’t affect their domestic life in negative ways, I think that’s fine,” Chris Murray offered.
“If it’s used properly, I’m okay with that. I have no problem with marijuana,” Dunham added. “I don’t personally use it but if it’s helping somebody, whatever reason, then I say go for it.”
If the measure survives all the hurdles, Florida would become the 24th state to legalize cannabis for adults.
We, at Inspirational Technologies are at the forefront of Inspirational and Frontrunners on the frontier of current technology.
We are often faced with our own personal conflicts which directly influence our interactions with our peers and family.
When Inspirational Technologies is an endorsement of the “Cannabis” approach to the medical condition, we say, let’s let the look at the data and the people who say that they benefit for cannabis alternatives.
1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2021-2023)Inspirational Technologies (2023) AllRightsReservedYour ONE STOP BLOG FOR INFORMATION, EDUCATION, & INSPIRATION OF ESSENTIAL INNOVATION & RENOVATION of You-THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST*This site receives virtually no compensation for sales of some or all mentioned products. We however place humanitarian value over monetary interests. Our monetary income goes back into research, development, discovery and healing.Inspirational Technologies – is Committed to Your Health Wellness Beauty and EnrichmentReporting on Today’s Internal Botanical and Skin Product Benefits
4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to “Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned.
Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the
4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“.
Cannabis CBD and Me Inspirational Technologies Inspirational Technologies (2014) @Inspire123tech Background Noise Studios Logos bySteven M Smith
Does Florida Require a Marijuana Grower to Obtain a Cultivation License?
Yes. The State of Florida requires marijuana growers to obtain cultivation licenses before they can legally grow marijuana. However, the cultivation license is bundled with marijuana treatment center licenses and is not issued exclusively. Per Florida Statutes Section 381.986, only licensed medical marijuana treatment centers (MTC) may cultivate marijuana in the state. The Florida Department of Health issues marijuana treatment center licenses. Florida’s MTC licenses permit organizations to grow, process, transport, and dispense low-THC cannabis, medical cannabis, and engage in cannabis delivery devices. At the inception of the MTC program, the Department of Health licensed only ten new marijuana treatment centers. Currently, it issues four new licenses for every 100,000 new medical marijuana patients that register with the state’s medical marijuana program. It is illegal to grow marijuana on private residential properties in the State of Florida.
Per state laws, Florida requires all medical marijuana treatment centers to show the technical and technological ability to grow marijuana. They are also required to prove the ability to secure their premises and hire appropriate personnel needed to grow marijuana. MTCs must equally maintain accountabilities for all raw material, finished products, and other byproducts to prevent unlawful access or diversion. The medical marijuana treatment centers are only permitted to make bulk purchases of marijuana if they can convince the Department of Health that their harvest failed.
Several rules apply to MTC when cultivating marijuana in Florida. These include:
Pesticides used for growing marijuana must be approved by the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and have proven to be safe and for human consumption.
Marijuana must be grown in an enclosed space with restricted access and separate from other plants.
Marijuana plants must be treated and fumigated, while infected plants must be removed and destroyed.
What Are the Different Types of Cultivation Licenses in Florida?
Florida has only one type of marijuana cultivation license, which comes bundled with the MTC license. MTC licenses permit MTC to grow marijuana on the state-recommended scale. Licensed MTCs in Florida practice vertical integration. As such, they must cultivate, process, and transport their marijuana products.
Who Can Grow Marijuana in Florida?
Licensed marijuana treatment centers are the only legal entities permitted to grow marijuana in the State of Florida. As stipulated in Florida Statutes Section 381.986. only qualified staff above 21 years who have passed a level 2 background check in line with the state laws are permitted to work in marijuana treatment centers. Generally, staff of MTC’s do not require special permits to grow marijuana. However, the MTCs are required to provide appropriate training on the cultivation and handling of marijuana and marijuana products to their staff. Florida does not permit felons or individuals with prior criminal records to work in a marijuana treatment center.
How to Get a Marijuana Cultivation License in Florida
To obtain a marijuana cultivation license, interested parties must apply for an MTC license as this is the only license in Florida that permits a marijuana business to cultivate marijuana.
Per Section 381.986(8)(a), F.S., the Department of Health is responsible for issuing licenses to marijuana treatment centers. To apply for an MTC license, an applicant must complete the Application for Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Registration Form and submit it to the Department of Health for processing. MTC licenses are issued biennially and applicants must adhere to the application’s requirements, blind grading, format, and organization as prescribed on the application form. Completed applications must be submitted with the following:
A non-refundable application fee of $60,830
A written proof from the Florida Department of State or Department of Revenue confirming that the applicant has a Florida registered business that has existed for at least five years. The applicant’s name on the application must match the name on any such supporting documentation.
A list of the owners, managers, officers, and board members together with the date of their most recent Level-2 background check within one year of the application
Completed license application forms and supporting documentation should be hand-delivered to:
The Department of Health
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The Department of Health will review submitted applications and then notify applicants with incomplete applications within 15 days of receiving the applications. Applicants with incomplete documentation are required to provide any missing document within five days of receiving such notifications.
If an applicant’s documentation is complete, the application is forwarded to subject matter experts for review and scoring. A team of seven subject matter experts in different relevant fields will then review and score relevant sections of the application. These experts will analyze, evaluate, and score applications using the Scorecard for Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Selection Form. Subject matter experts involved in this process include:
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree holder in agriculture, horticulture, or agronomy
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in chemistry, biology, or biochemistry
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in industrial engineering, supply chain management, or strategic management
A Professional with two years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in a field related to running a business in a highly regulated environment
Individuals with at least two years of management experience in a health-care-related firm
Individuals with active CPA licenses or current law licenses and experience in business structuring
Each applicant’s score from each section is added to give the applicant’s overall score. Applicants who do not pass the background check or meet the minimum scores for cultivation, processing, marijuana dispensing, security, or general operations, will not be included in the final application ranking. Per Section 381.986(8)(a)3., F.S., applicants with facilities used for canning, concentrating, or processing of citrus fruits will receive 35 additional points.
Licenses are issued to applicants who:
Have been registered to operate a business in Florida for at least five years before the license application
Can show the ability to develop and produce marijuana, including but not limited to low-THC cannabis, on a technical and technological level.
Can show the capacity to procure the appropriate facilities, resources, and hire employees to run a medical marijuana treatment facility.
Have the ability to keep track of all raw materials, completed products, and byproducts to avoid diversion or unauthorized access to or ownership of these substances.
Have a system in place to deliver marijuana to certified patients who have registered.
Can show proof of financial ability to continue operations for a 2-year approval cycle, including providing certified financial statements to the department.
Under Section 381.986(8)(a)2, F.S., 10 licenses are to be issued at the start of the medical marijuana treatment center program. The law requires that priority be given to the following categories of applicants:
An applicant whose application was reviewed, analyzed, and scored by the department but was denied a marijuana dispensing organization license by the department under former Florida Statutes 2014 shall be licensed by the department if:
The applicant had one or more administrative or judicial challenges pending as of January 2017
The applicant shows the department that it has the required infrastructure, technical, and technological capabilities to start cultivating marijuana within 30 days of registration for a medical marijuana treatment center.
Preference is given to applicants that qualify to be licensed and demonstrate in their applications that they own facilities used for the canning, concentrating, or processing of citrus fruit. If two applicants score an equal number of points in the evaluation, the applicant with the highest score in Financials – certified documents, Financials – Business Structure, Diversity Plan, and Accountability- Operations in order of priority is selected.
Once a license application has been approved, the applicant must within ten days:
Post a performance bond, provide an irrevocable letter of credit to the department or provide financial assurance to the tune of $5 million.
Provide proof to back up any statements made in the application about property ownership and leases.
How Much Do Marijuana Cultivation Licenses Cost in Florida?
Florida marijuana cultivation license is bundled with the MTC license. The MTC license permits interested parties to grow, process, and dispense medical use marijuana in the state. MTC licenses are reviewed and renewed every two years for $60,830.
Can Licensed Marijuana Cultivators Hold Other Cannabis Licenses in Florida?
Yes. Generally, the MTC license permits license holders to grow marijuana in Florida. It also allows them to process, produce, retail, and dispense marijuana in the state. However, MTC license holders are not permitted to operate marijuana testing centers.
We, at Inspirational Technologies are at the forefront of Inspirational and Frontrunners on the frontier of current technology.
We are often faced with our own personal conflicts which directly influence our interactions with our peers and family.
When Inspirational Technologies is an endorsement of the “Cannabis” approach to the medical condition, we say, let’s let the look at the data and the people who say that they benefit for cannabis alternatives.
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None of the information mentioned in this article should be taken as nutritional advice.
The role cannabinoids play in nutrition is often overlooked in discussions of the science of cannabis. It’s generally understood that cannabinoids like CBD and THC don’t have any direct nutritional value, and this assumption is essentially true.
The story of cannabinoids and nutrition goes much deeper, though. In this guide, familiarize yourself with the basics of cannabis nutrition, and discover all the ways cannabinoids might impact human nutrition.
Basics of nutrition
The human body needs a variety of substances called nutrients to survive. Nutrients promote growth, provide nourishment and energy while maintaining life. These substances are generally separated into “macronutrients,” which are needed in great quantities, and “micronutrients,” which are needed in much smaller quantities. Examples of essential macronutrients include fat, protein and carbohydrates while, examples of essential micronutrients include vitamin C, calcium, and zinc.
The human body only flourishes when provided with a diet filled with essential macronutrients and micronutrients. These nutrients are found in many different forms of Cannabis sativa plant and animal life, and the Cannabis sativa plant has been identified as a great source of certain essential and non-essential macronutrients and micronutrients.
Can you eat Cannabis?
Yes, every part of the Cannabis sativa plant is edible, and cannabis appears to have considerable nutritional value. The fibrous stalks and leaves, while not optimal for human digestion, are excellent sources of certain dietary fibers. s contain large amounts of nutrients, including protein, minerals, fatty acids, and dietary fiber. The fatty acids in hemp seeds are rich in the highly beneficial omega fatty acids.
While the whole cannabis plant is technically edible, only certain parts of the plant are ideal for human consumption. Traditionally, cannabis seeds have been the most commonly used for nutritional purposes, though the eating of cannabis leaves for their nutritional value is not unknown.
Does Cannabis have nutritional value?
Yes, the various parts of cannabis offer nutritional value in different ways. The most nutritious part of the cannabis plant is the seed due to its high fat and protein content, but cannabis leaves are also notable for containing essential micronutrients. These include vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zink, and an array of B vitamins. Furthermore, cannabis flower may offer an indirect nutritional benefit due to the antioxidant activity of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Which parts of the Cannabis plant are nutritious?
Let’s break down the nutritional value of cannabis part by part:
Do cannabis seeds have nutritional value?
Yes, even if they’re commonly overlooked in preference of hemp seeds for culinary purposes. Some inspired chefs include cannabis leaves in salads and other green dishes, and consuming cannabis leaves will provide your body with lots of essential macronutrients and micronutrients.
Which nutrients are contained in cannabis seeds?
According to the USDA, 2 tablespoons (28 g) of hemp seeds contain: 3.3 g carbohydrates, 9.2 g protein, 12.3 g fat, and 2 g fiber.
Hemp seeds are especially notable for containing all nine amino acids, offering a “complete” source of protein. They also contain abundant micronutrients including Vitamin E, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, B vitamins.
Do cannabis leaves have nutritional value? Yes, even if they’re commonly overlooked in preference of hemp seeds for culinary purposes. Some inspired chefs include cannabis leaves in salads and other green dishes, and consuming cannabis leaves will provide your body with lots of essential macronutrients and micronutrients.
Which nutrients are contained in cannabis leaves?
The main macronutrient present in cannabis leaves is dietary fiber. Leaves of cannabis and hemp plants also contain abundant micronutrients like Iron, Calcium, Vitamin K and Vitamin C.
Do cannabis stalks have nutritional value?
Cannabis stalks contain lots of dietary fiber, unfortunately these fibers are hard to digest when eaten raw or when added to dishes. Moreover, the micronutrient content in cannabis stalks is much lower than it is in cannabis leaves. As a result, stalks are generally not used for culinary purposes though they show great potential in industrial applications.
Do cannabis buds have nutritional value?
Cannabis buds contain the same amount of dietary fiber and micronutrients that are present in cannabis leaves, but the buds also contain cannabinoids and terpenes, powerful antioxidant compounds that may boost digestion indirectly. Cannabis buds should be ingested for their cannabinoid and terpene content since cannabis leaves will serve just as well for fiber and micronutrient purposes.
Do cannabinoids have nutritional value?
Cannabinoids, which are most abundant in the buds of cannabis and hemp plants, are not known to impart any direct nutritional value. They are not used in any of the metabolic systems that process micronutrients and macronutrients, but cannabinoids have been universally determined to have at least some degree of antioxidant activity.
As a result, ingesting cannabinoids orally may reduce digestive inflammation, thus improving the gut’s ability to absorb and process nutrients. Despite the lack of nutritional value in cannabinoids themselves, modern science is gradually coming to grips with the role oxidative stress may play in poor nutritional uptake, potentially making cannabinoids more important to nutrition than any other part of the hemp plant.
Could cannabinoids boost nutrition in other ways?
Despite not offering any nutritional value as micronutrients or macronutrients, certain cannabinoids may boost the overall functioning of your digestive system, making it easier for your body to process waste and send essential nutrients where they need to go. Let’s take a look at the available research on the impact of cannabinoids on oxidative stress and digestion:
Research into cannabinoids and digestion
The abstract of a 2005 academic paper on the role of cannabinoids in digestion begins by noting that the body uses endocannabinoids (body-generated cannabinoid-like compounds) extensively in the digestion process. Since phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids found in plants like cannabis) dramatically impact the operation of endocannabinoids in the body, the authors of this paper postulate that phytocannabinoids like CBD and THC may be valid targets of research into novel therapies for digestion-related conditions.
This research was followed up by a 2015 study into the impact of cannabinoids on the gut’s mucosal defense barrier. The authors of the study concluded that “the endocannabinoid system represents a promising target in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases,” indicating that cannabinoids may have a profound indirect impact on the digestion process.
Your body’s ability to uptake nutrients is hampered by inflammation. Researchers have studied the anti-inflammatory potential of cannabinoids like CBD and THC in great detail, and both cannabinoids show promise in different ways. CBD has been researched extensively for its potential ability to combat almost every type of inflammation, gradually replacing THC as the primary target of cannabinoid inflammation research, a seemingly anti-inflammatory cannabinoid that nonetheless can cause unwanted inflammation under certain circumstances.
Do terpenes boost the digestive benefits of cannabinoids?
Unless ingested in isolated form, cannabinoids are always accompanied by terpenes, which along with flavonoids provide cannabis with its delicious flavors and aromas. In addition to their culinary value, terpenes are universally believed to offer anti-inflammatory benefits 6 to varying degrees. If you’re consuming cannabinoids for digestive purposes, therefore, it would make sense to ingest products that also contain natural terpenes found in cannabis.
While scientists have determined that virtually all discovered terpenes have some degree of anti-inflammatory or antioxidant potential, each terpene has a different chemical makeup and unique effects. Some of the terpenes that have been investigated for anti-inflammatory effects include limonene, pinene, myrcene and caryophyllene.
What are the best ways to consume cannabis for nutrition?
To take advantage of any potential nutritional benefits cannabinoids may impart, you will need to consume these cannabis compounds orally. Out of the various oral ingestion methods available for cannabinoids, capsules offer the greatest simplicity and purity while tinctures and gummies offer more opportunities for customization. It’s also possible to consume cannabis concentrate on its own, but research indicates that carrier oils improve the bioavailability of oral cannabinoids, which would make properly formulated oral cannabinoid products more effective.
The bottom line: Is cannabis a superfood?
Cannabis is often touted as a “superfood,” a popular term for a substance that has higher-than-usual nutritional benefits. This term might apply to the seeds of the cannabis plant, but the direct nutritional uses of other cannabis components appear to be much less impressive.
As we’re learning, though, nutrition is about a lot more than just the volume of macronutrients and micronutrients you ingest. The human gut is an extremely complex ecosystem with more than 100 million nerve endings, and modern science is gradually unveiling the massively important role inflammation plays in overall health.
Due to their impact on inflammation, cannabinoids may play a major, if indirect, role in human nutrition. The human digestive tract is, after all, largely controlled by a system composed of endogenous cannabinoid compounds, and cannabinoids like CBD and THC have been widely demonstrated to significantly impact the operation of the endocannabinoid system.
There are better ways to ingest cannabinoids and the other beneficial substances in cannabis than eating raw cannabis plants, though. Cannabis may only reach true “superfood” status when prepared into finished, formulated products. Cannabinoid-rich capsules, tinctures, and edibles, for instance, maximize the potential indirect nutritional value of cannabinoids while doing away with the unpalatable or inconvenient components of cannabis.
Cannabinoid nutrition facts FAQ
Learn more about the nutritional value of CBD and other cannabinoids below:
1. Does CBD have nutritional value?
Any potential nutritional value that CBD may offer has not yet been assessed. As we have discussed in this guide, CBD is not generally pursued its nutritional benefits but rather for its potential therapeutic properties. Scientists of the future may determine that CBD is useful for some nutritional purpose or another, but at this point, it remains unclear if CBD has any dietary value.
2. Does CBN have nutritional value?
We do not yet know if the cannabinoid cannabinol (CBN) has any nutritional value, but based on what we know about CBD, the chances are relatively small. Even though they may have differences that are significant from the point of view of medical science, cannabinoids share a basic chemical structure that does not appear to impart any nutritional value to the human digestive system. It would be very unlikely if CBN proved to be the exception to this rule.
3. Does CBG have nutritional value?
No, there is no evidence yet that the cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) offers any nutritional value. Like other cannabinoids, CBG has a chemical structure that does not appear to provide the body with energy or any other form of nutrition. Put another way, you cannot subsist on CBG just as you cannot subsist on any other discovered cannabinoid.
4. Are cannabinoids good for the body?
Despite the fact that scientists have not discovered any nutritional value in cannabinoids, these substances still appear to offer a great deal of bodily benefits. Some cannabinoids, for instance, appear to help with inflammation, which is the root cause of many serious medical conditions. As we learn more about cannabinoids, we’ll be able to make more definitive statements regarding the benefits they might offer the human body.
Sources
1. Tan, B. L., Norhaizan, M. E., & Liew, W. P. (2018). Nutrients and Oxidative Stress: Friend or Foe?. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2018, 9719584. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9719584
2. Izzo, A. A., & Coutts, A. A. (2005). Cannabinoids and the digestive tract. Handbook of experimental pharmacology, (168), 573–598. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-26573-2_19
3. Gyires, K., & Zádori, Z. S. (2016). Role of Cannabinoids in Gastrointestinal Mucosal Defense and Inflammation. Current neuropharmacology, 14(8), 935–951. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159×14666160303110150
4. Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
5. Nagarkatti, P., Pandey, R., Rieder, S. A., Hegde, V. L., & Nagarkatti, M. (2009). Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future medicinal chemistry, 1(7), 1333–1349. https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc.09.93
6. Gallily, R., Yekhtin, Z., & Hanuš, L. O. (2018). The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Terpenoids from Cannabis. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 3(1), 282–290. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0014
7. Stella, B., Baratta, F., Della Pepa, C. et al. Cannabinoid Formulations and Delivery Systems: Current and Future Options to Treat Pain. Drugs 81, 1513–1557 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-021-01579-x
8. Aidan J. Hampson, Julius Axelrod, Maurizio Grimaldi, (1999). Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants (US09/674,028).US Department of Health and Human Services. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6630507
We, at Inspirational Technologies are at the forefront of Inspirational and Frontrunners on the frontier of current technology.
We are often faced with our own personal conflicts which directly influence our interactions with our peers and family.
When Inspirational Technologies is an endorsement of the “Cannabis” approach to the medical condition, we say, let’s let the look at the data and the people who say that they benefit for cannabis alternatives.
1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2021-2023)Inspirational Technologies (2023) AllRightsReservedYour ONE STOP BLOG FOR INFORMATION, EDUCATION, & INSPIRATION OF ESSENTIAL INNOVATION & RENOVATION of You-THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST*This site receives virtually no compensation for sales of some or all mentioned products. We however place humanitarian value over monetary interests. Our monetary income goes back into research, development, discovery and healing.Inspirational Technologies – is Committed to Your Health Wellness Beauty and EnrichmentReporting on Today’s Internal Botanical and Skin Product Benefits
4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to “Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned.
Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the
4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“.
Cannabis CBD and Me Inspirational Technologies Inspirational Technologies (2014) @Inspire123tech Background Noise Studios Logos bySteven M Smith
