FL: Lawsuit Over Medical Marijuana Licenses

Ron Strider

Well-Known Member
Colombus Smith, 82, a black farmer from Panama City filed suit against the state Friday.

Smith says he is being excluded from obtaining a license to grow medical marijuana because he is not a member of the Black Farmers Association, which by law is entitled to a license. Smith alleges he is being excluded from the organization to lessen competition.

The Medical Marijuana Business Association says it has received similar complaints from other black farmers.

Taylor Biehl from the MMBA says, "They're not allowing them to join the association."

"In essence, the association is discriminating against their own qualified candidates to clearly allow for less competition," said Biehl.

The suit was filed days after the Department of Health published a new application for marijuana licenses. The Department is receiving flack from activists who say the DOH will miss its October 3rd deadline to approve five new vendors.

The Legislature ordered more vendors to increase competition.

Medical marijuana isn't covered by insurance, so patients have to pay out of pocket. Any reduction in price makes a direct impact on the wallets of the more than 36,000 patients who have qualified for treatment.

"The more businesses that are out there competing with one another, the better it will be for the patient because that's how Capitalism is supposed to work. More competition should drive down prices and improve quality," said Ron Watson, a Medical Marijuana Lobbyist.

If the DOH fails to meet the deadline, additional lawsuits from patients and potential vendors could be on the horizon.

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News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawsuit over medical marijuana licenses
Contact: NewsChannel 7 | Panama City, FL | WJHG - Station - Contact Us
Photo Credit: AP
Website: Panama City, FL | WJHG Newschannel 7 | News, Weather, & Sports
 
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