marijuana industry

Christopher Kimball steps into the post as the state’s medical marijuana industry could be poised to double in size and as challenges pile up over the decision to award a sought-after license to a Black farmer.

The discrimination the set-aside license was meant to redress created obstacles for Frederick Fisher obtain it. This is Fisher’s story as he told oral historians in 2017, as he swore this year in his application and as he tells it now.

The health department issues a “written notice of intent” for Terry Donnell Gwinn of Suwannee County, beating out 11 other applicants competing for a license earmarked for a Black farmer, a 2017 requirement from the “Pigford” lawsuits.

Online companies are connecting patients and doctors, and sharing fees with the physicians, which could run afoul of a law prohibiting patient brokering. The activities are drawing the ire of doctors following the rules.

With the $2.1 billion acquisition of Harvest Health & Recreation finalized, Trulieve will have 149 retail locations in 11 states including Florida. Before the deal closed, Trulieve had 85 retail sites in Florida.

Physicians who don’t comply with the new requirements could face disciplinary action from their state boards if complaints are filed and found to have merit.

The state will kick off the rulemaking process for Black farmer applicants within “weeks to months” and set the stage for another set of licenses that would nearly double the number of operators.

A measure to protect Florida public employees who use medical marijuana stalled this legislative session, leaving a disconnect between restrictive federal laws and permissive local laws.

State health officials will hold a workshop Aug. 17 to take input on the application process for new medical marijuana licenses.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist was in Largo on Wednesday to introduce legislation that would protect federal employees who use medical marijuana in states...