Florida Officials’ Medical Marijuana Business Licensing Decisions Are Being Appealed By Rejected Applicants
From toxifillers.com with love
“We worked with seven groups to appeal their denial.”
By Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix
Applicants not chosen for new medical marijuana licenses are sending appeals into the Florida Department of Health (DOH).
Marijuana Legalization Boosts Job Opportunities In Agricultural
A new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that marijuana legalization may actually increase job opportunities.
This counters marijuana prohibitionist claims that it harms the workforce.
Researchers explored the impact of recreational marijuana legalization (RML) on employment and wages, comparing states with and without legalization.
If prohibitionist claims were accurate, the study would have shown significant negative impacts on the economy and workforce.
However, the study found no such evidence.
Instead, RML is linked to small employment increases in the agricultural sector, especially in states like California, Colorado, and Oregon.
The study also noted modest employment gains for Hispanics and people over 30.
These findings align with previous research, including a 2021 study that associated legalization with higher workforce productivity and fewer workplace injuries.
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DOH did not respond to Florida Phoenix’s request for a list of the applicants that sent notices announcing their intent to appeal the decision, either informally at the agency level or formally through the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
But Paula Savchenko, attorney and cannabis industry consultant, told the Florida Phoenix that she has several clients who have notified the state of requests for hearings. Savchenko didn’t reveal which of her clients requested hearings or whether they would be formal or informal.
“We worked with seven groups to appeal their denial,” she said on Tuesday afternoon in a phone call.
Applicants had until Tuesday to put the state on notice of their intent to appeal.
Seventy-four applicants submitted applications for medical marijuana licenses, and at the end of November the state announced its intent to award 22 licenses, meaning 52 applicants were denied.
Savenchko estimated that 75 percent of the rejected applicants, or 39, could challenge the state’s denials.
Florida’s medical marijuana industry is tightly regulated and only those with a license can cultivate, process and sell marijuana.
Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use data show that as of December 6, 890,402 patients had qualified to use medical marijuana and 2,444 physicians qualified to order medical marijuana for those patients.
Savenchko estimates that, based on the number of registered patients, the state would be justified in awarding another two or three licenses on top of the 22 it’s granted.
This story was first published by Florida Phoenix.
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
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