An Overview of Florida’s Medical Marijuana Industry in 2022
Before visiting your local smoke shop to pick up a top-quality smoking accessory, educate yourself on the latest updates on medical marijuana in Florida. Medical marijuana first appeared in Florida with the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014, which allowed patients with qualifying conditions to use low-THC products for treatment.
In 2016, Florida voters helped pass Amendment 2, which, among other things, created Florida’s first official medical marijuana program. Caregivers, qualifying patients and medical marijuana dispensaries all received protection from criminal prosecutions or civil sanctions under Amendment 2.
Support for medical marijuana continues to rise in Florida and all over the country—but what does that mean for Florida’s marijuana industry?
Florida’s medical marijuana scene may double in 2022
After already generating $1.1 million in sales, the medical marijuana industry in Florida shows no signs of slowing down in 2022. In fact, it’s expected to double, resulting in millions of dollars in new license fees and tax revenues. This is great news for both the Florida economy and those using medical marijuana for its many benefits.
The Florida Department of Health also predicts they’ll issue around 19 licenses for medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs), adding to the 22 treatment centers already present in the state.
Job creation
One of the largest benefits of the growing medical marijuana industry in Florida is the increase in jobs. Florida already has over 300 dispensaries all across the state with Trulieve, Surterra and Curaleaf being some of the most prevalent—and all these dispensaries provide work for many people within their local community. In fact, according to Arcview Market Research, the medical marijuana industry created around 15,000 jobs in 2020.
With more dispensaries opening all over the state, Florida will only see an increase in available jobs. Smoke shops and dispensaries will likely be looking for more and more employees over the coming months.
HB 679
Another possible change to Florida’s medical marijuana industry comes in the form of a bipartisan bill called HB 679. The regulations featured in this bill will make buying and selling certain marijuana products much more difficult. One of the main goals of this bill is to prevent the sale of delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, which produces a euphoric effect when smoking.
Delta-8 hasn’t been properly evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, giving it legal status due to a loophole in the system. Lawmakers hope to close that loophole with HB 679 while also slowing down medical marijuana advertising towards those who are under age, increasing evaluation methods on new marijuana-related products, preventing the sale of delta-8 to anyone under 21 and stopping the sale of medical marijuana licenses for profit.
There’s a lot to look forward to
In 2022, those Florida residents who need medical marijuana can expect to see many more resources, as experts predict an increase in both treatment centers and dispensaries. If you’ve got your medical marijuana card and need top-quality smoking accessories, visit New Galaxy Gifts. At our smoke shop, we have everything you need for a great smoking experience.
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