Florida Selects its First Legal Cannabis Grows

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]F[/dropcap]ive nurseries who scored the highest out of 28 applicants will be the first in Florida to legally grow, process and distribute medical cannabis. Florida legalized low-THC/high-CBD cannabis last summer.

The five winners are: Hackney Nursery, Chestnut Hill Tree Farm, Knox Nursery, Alpha Foliage and Costa Nursery. Nurseries must have been in business for 30 years and have grown a minimum of 400,000 plants at the time they applied for a license.

Children with severe epilepsy were the main push behind Florida’s Medical Cannabis program. Senate Bill 1030 which approves limited medical cannabis was signed last year by Governor Rick Scott. “The approval of Charlotte’s Web will ensure that children in Florida who suffer from seizures and other debilitating illnesses will have the medication needed to improve their quality of life,” Governor Scott wrote. The Governor also signed SB 1700 which protects patient rights.

Senator Rob Bradley was instrumental behind the law’s passing. “I think now the attention should be focused on the industry to make sure that they cause no further delays and we move forward getting this product to these suffering families as quickly as possible,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, told CBS Miami. “The department did its job. And now it’s time for the industry to step up. No further delays. Let’s move forward.”

The winners now have 10 business days to come up with $5 million performance bonds

An amendment to legalize all forms of cannabis failed last year, however, another amendment legalizing full strength cannabis is expected to go before Florida voters next November.