The Florida Health Department has awarded 5 licenses for low-THC cannabis oil that is part of the state’s Compassionate Use medical marijuana program after reviewing 28 applications. The program authorizes low-THC cannabis oil to treat intractable epilepsy and advanced cancer. The full list of letters sent to the winners and those who were unsuccessful can be seen here. 28 applications by 24 companies were submitted in July. Only one multiple applicant, Alpha Foliage, was successful. Most of the rejection letters were standard, but a few had issues with security clearance or financial disclosures. The program required that applicants have at least 30 years of continuous operations as a nursery in Florida. The complete rules are here.
The department just issued this press release:
DATE: Nov, 23 2015
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES LOW-THC CANNABIS DISPENSING ORGANIZATIONS
Five organizations approved
Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111
Tallahassee, Fla.—
Today, the Florida Department of Health announced the five dispensing organizations approved to provide patients with intractable epilepsy and people with advanced cancer access to low-THC cannabis. The five approved organizations are:
Northwest Region – Hackney Nursery Company
Northeast Region – Chestnut Hill Tree Farm, LLC
Central Region – Knox Nursery, Inc.
Southwest Region – Alpha Foliage, Inc.
Southeast Region – Costa Nursery Farms, LLC
The process and timeline for cultivation, processing and dispensing to patients is set forth in rule and statute. The approved organizations have 10 business days to post a $5 million performance bond. If an approved applicant fails to post the performance bond within the required timeframe, the applicant with the next highest score in the dispensing region will be selected and notified. Approved dispensing organizations must request cultivation authority within 75 days of being notified of their selection and begin cultivation within 210 days of receiving cultivation authority.
Applications, reviewer score cards, a map of approved dispensing organizations and approval and denial letters are available for public viewing here.
The department has initiated administrative rulemaking to establish the protocol for the inspection of the five dispensing organizations. A workshop will be held on Dec. 9 at the Department of Health in Tallahassee.
For more information about the Office of Compassionate Use, please visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/office-of-compassionate-use/
About the Florida Department of Health
The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
