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.