6 Things To Know About Florida’s Recreational Marijuana Legalization Bill

The Florida Legislature introduced HB 1171 / SB 1780 Adult Use Marijuana Legalization, which legalizes recreational marijuana and establishes a regulatory framework for the licensing and oversight of marijuana establishments by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages, Marijuana, and Tobacco.

Below are 6 things that you should know about Florida’s recreational marijuana bill.

• Through 2028, 5% of the tax revenues will be provided to the Department of Health to fund peer-review studies on marijuana’s beneficial uses and safety.

• The number of medical marijuana dispensaries allowed in the state will be limited based on a location’s population.

  • Cities with less than 5,000 people are allocated one marijuana retail license.

  • Cities with 5,000 – 20,000 people are allocated two marijuana retail licenses.

  • Cities with over 20,000 people may have one marijuana retail licenses for each 5,000 people.

• If the Florida fails to issue licenses by January 1, 2021, an applicant may request a license from a city where the marijuana establishment will be located.

• Local municipalities will have until September 1 , 2020 to prohibit one or more marijuana establishments.

• Florida will share 50% of the application fee and the application with the locality where the cannabis establishment will be located.

• Application fees will not exceed 5,000 and cultivators will pay an excise fee of $50 per ounce.