Florida Awards 22 New Medical Marijuana Licenses After Prolonged Delays

The long-overdue licenses aim to expand competition in a market dominated by a few companies, though legal challenges may slow implementation.

Florida has issued 22 new medical marijuana licenses, ending a 19-month delay in the application process that began in April 2023.
The state’s medical marijuana market has been controlled by 28 companies, with only two-thirds operating storefronts, serving nearly 1 million patients.
The law mandates issuing four new licenses for every additional 100,000 patients, but Florida has been out of compliance for years, according to experts.
Three licenses were awarded to Black farmers, addressing past discrimination highlighted in the Pigford cases, as required by state legislation.
Litigation over the new licenses is expected, potentially delaying the opening of retail outlets and further market expansion.