Florida Medical Cannabis Operators Form Cannabis Trade Group

A group of medical cannabis operators in Florida has formed a cannabis trade association dedicated to promoting medical cannabis research and the “research and advancement” of medical cannabis, Health News Florida reports.

The Florida Medical Marijuana Trade Association (FMMTA) represents many of the state’s top medical cannabis companies including AYR Wellness, Curaleaf, Fluent, Green Thumb Industries, Surterra, The Cannabist Company, and Verano, the group said in a press release. The state’s largest medical cannabis operator, Trulieve — which is leading the state’s current adult-use legalization ballot campaign — is not an FMMTA member.

FMMTA’s executive director Shamarial Roberson, an epidemiologist, said the association’s goal “is really to foster a thriving medical marijuana industry.”

“There’s a need for a coordinated effort on medical marijuana to look for those options for research. Having a trade association really helps to push out the message to make sure education is there.” — Roberson, via The News Service of Florida

“Our members look forward to leveraging our deep collective experience on critical legislative and regulatory issues, including the proposed THC potency limits, in service of the state’s medical cannabis patients and operators,” FMMTA President Chris Ferguson, who is the current vice president at Verano, said in a statement.

The Florida Supreme Court is currently considering whether to allow a cannabis legalization question to appear on this year’s November ballot after the initiative was challenged by the attorney general. While the court has yet to make an official ruling, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has predicted that voters will get to decide on the issue later this year.