Let's Talk About It

Bans, Moratoriums, and Raids

12/21/2016

What cities are trying to avoid

All across Florida cities are implementing bans or moratoriums.

We always hope to see the word "temporary" as this implies the city is preparing for implementation of Amendment 2. It's when we see the word "permanent" that we get concerned.

Very concerned.

Medical Marijuana in Florida received more votes in support than any other issue/candidate in November of 2016. Cities are taking note of that, and preparing for implementation, licensing, zoning, and the plethora of questions they have coming their way. It's not an easy process.

By implementing a temporary ban or moratorium they are stopping the licensing department from issuing licenses and give the licensing department an answer for people who call or inquire. This is part of a process and it is intended to allow the city to accommodate the new Will of The People.

Permanent bans go directly against the voters wishes, and must be approached logically and rationally to suit the needs and concerns of all. Permenent bans are most concerning as those cities are not following the will of their voters, and citizens need to address their commissions to educate, and remedy the situation at hand.

There are Floridians in every city across our great state who need access to this plant to treat their conditions. We hope that those cities with bans in place will contact us and allow us to educate them and aid in assuaging the concerns of the locals while ensuring patient safety and access.

When birthing a new industry, it is imperative that rules and regulations are clear and concise. Especially in an industry where people can go to jail if things go wrong, or rules are not followed very closely.

Already we have had at least one shop in Florida open without a license, get raided, and get closed down. See links below.

Orange Park Medical Marijuana Dispensary Raided

Deputies raid medical marijuana dispensary

If you are interested in getting into this new business, please ensure you do it correctly.

We're here to help with that.

Don't have any trainwrecks like pictured above getting into this industry - let the professionals hold your hand.

Our goal is the picture below!

Irvin@MyMedicineConsulting.com - 954-536-9011
Hiedi@MyMedicineConsulting.com - 202-760-1924

THIS is the kind of Trainwreck we hope to see soon in Florida - In Compliance!

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Florida Patients and Amendment 2 ~ Hold Up Folks

12/8/2016

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Amendment 2 passed - patients are rejoicing across the state.

Now what???

Hurry up and wait - that's what you do, unless you wish to get onto the program developed in 2014 - the CBD law.

Amendment 2 goes into effect January 3, but THAT'S IT for now.

Rules have to be written, guidelines established, and Physicians have to come on board. Not all Doctors out there are going to issue medical marijuana referrals.

We have been watching the Florida Department of Health website for any guidance, and what is there is very vague. Look for yourself: Florida Department of Health

What they are talking about is the 2014 CBD law - NOT Amendment 2 - so don't go thinking you are "safe to use" under Amendment 2 just yet.

Found a great resource here at Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors so be sure and read up there too.

In the meantime - we highly recommend to all patients to sign up for Florida Patients and Families United. Communications will be starting by the end of December. WHY join Florida Patients and Families United?

Because we're giving the patient a voice at the Capital. We have direct feed from Tallahassee from people working directly on the issues so we can guide and instruct you on communicating with your civic leaders on the building of this bill. The patient's voice MUST BE HEARD or regulations will be written without proper feedback. We're going to guide you and instruct you on what's going on, and responses to send to your civic leaders.

Sign up HERE please - and be sure to join the Facebook group HERE

We hope to see the best law in the Nation in Florida, and we can't do it without you and your voice.

If you like this story Please be sure to like and share this post so we don't see a bunch of Floridians getting in hot water with the law January 3, 2017. In other states drug "crime" convictions can result in inability to participate in medical cannabis program (don't shoot the messengers - we know diseases aren't selective) and we need to ensure sick patients in Florida don't make the same mistakes. It could cost people their lives.

Thank you for your attention to this. It's VERY important. We have NO CLUE what's going to happen in Tallahassee regulating this industry. Be sure you get your 2 cents in. We need every person possible in Florida having educated conversations with their elected officials.

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How To Choose The Right Consultant For Your Business

12/7/2016

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Cannabis consulting has exploded across the Nation in the past few years, giving entrepreneurs in need of business and operational help more options than ever.

It also makes it more confusing than ever. So many people out there with so many skills, how does a person choose?

With the passing of Amendment 2 in Florida, new businesses are opening across the state in anticipation of the regulations being developed by the Florida legislature in 2017.

Many of these are consultants - which is a good thing. There's plenty of work in the state for all. Not one agency can possibly responsibly represent all of the Cannabis Businesses in Florida.

More than ever, consulting firms claiming to specialize in the cannabis businesses have been on the rise as legalization across the U.S. continues. While some firms provide invaluable insight and expertise for the growing industry, others appear to be no more than Green Rush enterpreneurs attempting to strike it rich without actually touching the plant, on your dime.

It’s troubling to see startups and individuals pay tens of thousands of dollars for nothing more than false promises and pre-packaged advice.

In order to help cannabis businesses navigate the potentially destructive minefield of bad consulting firms, below are some warning signs to look for when selecting a firm:

Opportunities That Sound Too Good To Be True

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This adage is cliché for a reason. The most common and injurious to be found is the promise of the lucrative local or state license to operate your business. NO company can guarantee you licensing because of the specific nature of the approval process. Any company that makes this unqualified statement is either stupid or lying. Proceed with caution if any consulting firm attempts to get your business by claiming such.

Undisclosed Conflicts Of Interest

In regards to licensing, many local authorities will only issue a limited number. One question a business owner should ask is whether the consultant has any other clients that are seeking licenses in your city or county. If so, you and the other client may be fighting for the same license. A follow-up question to then ask is whether the consultant has a resolution for this potential conflict. It’s a glaring warning sign if the consultant is not prepared to answer these questions. They must have a solution for this before taking on multiple clients in one area.

A Big Price Tag For An Unknown Outcome

If the consulting firm is quoting you five figures or more in exchange for unspecified consulting and advisory services, you should demand to know the details of what they will provide. The consultant should draft a proposal for you that includes a price quote, the strategy, steps for implementation and the services that will be provided at an additional cost. Make clear that you must first give written consent before the consultant performs additional services or spends money on your behalf. Also, outline deliverables with due dates and reports if applicable to your business. This information doesn’t need to be included in the contract; rather an email exchange between you and the consultant should suffice.

Turn-key Solutions For Your Business

The political atmosphere, the physical location of your business, your competition and the phase of the business cycle should all be accounted for when developing solutions for a cannabis company. Any consultant that claims to have a turn-key solution for your business is wrong. A good consultant knows that what worked for one client may not for you. If the consultant is not willing to go the extra mile to provide tailored solutions for your business, then you should find one that will. Don't be afraid to shop around.

You Never Hear The Bad News

No one wants to hear bad news and being the one to divulge it can be even worse. However, a consultant’s advice must be based in reality, which includes addressing all the pitfalls and dangers of operating in the cannabis industry. If you are only hearing positive news about your company, then it’s time to find a consultant who will tell you the whole truth- both good and bad.

Poor Communication Skills

The client-consultant relationship can have a direct impact on the success of your business. A smart consultant understands this and knows how to foster this relationship. In the initial meeting, the consultant should freely share his background, qualifications and skills and those of his staff. Additionally, there should be an open line of communication to ensure your concerns are addressed and goals are met. In addition, beware of consultants who "bad-mouth" other entities or consultants. Birthing a new industry takes collaboration and communication. If the consultant or business entity you are working with constantly runs down other businesses, they more than likely are not collaborating or communicating with their peers. They won't get to either, as their behavior alienates them from the true professionals.

We need positivity and support to launch this industry in Florida. From all entities involved. If you find yourself surrounded by something else, the best advice we can give is: change it up.

We hope you have enjoyed this piece and you share it with your current consultant if you have one. We want to collaborate with as many consultants in state and speak to them as well so we can give appropriate referrals when we have clients call us from out of our area.

Please feel free to contact us at My Medicine Consulting and see if we are the right fit for your business dreams in Florida. We will only be accepting a very limited number of clients so we can provide them the best services available without charging some of the enourmous fees we have heard of.

Good luck out there.

Feel free to call us!

Irvin ~ 954-536-9011
Irvin@MyMedicineConsulting.com
Hiedi ~ 202-760-1924
Hiedi@MyMedicineConsulting.com

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Marijuana moratoriums OK — but not for long | Editorial

12/7/2016

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A clerk handles the merchandise at a Southern California medical marijuana dispensary. (Los Angeles Times)
By Sun Sentinel Editorial Board

With 71 percent of Floridians having voted to legalize medical marijuana, it might seem surprising to see so many South Florida communities impose moratoriums on dispensaries.So far, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and the village of Golf have imposed year-long timeouts. Also, six-month freezes have been imposed in Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Hallandale Beach, although Hallandale's will expire in January.
Given the unknowns, the moratoriums are understandable. For while voters agreed to give residents with certain medical ailments a constitutional right to medical pot, the Legislature has yet to write the implementing language that clarifies how the process will work, exactly.

After all, no one wants a dispensary next door to a school or church, or congregated in a single neighborhood, changing its character. We've also yet to learn whether legislators will outlaw packaging that looks like candy or overwrite another law that prohibits anyone from smoking marijuana, medical or otherwise.

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Dan Daley, who supported the ballot effort, said city leaders "are taking a lot of flak" about their moratorium. "People are asking, 'Why didn't you prepare?' That's not the issue. We're waiting to see what the state does."
Absent a moratorium, cities fear businesses will apply for conditional use permits when the amendment takes effect on Jan. 3, but before the state's regulatory framework is established. From there, the courts could get involved.
So it makes sense to call a timeout and track one of the hottest topics facing lawmakers next spring: how to regulate the medical marijuana industry.

Let's hope they do a better job than the scheme they created after passing a 2014 law that allows doctors to prescribe a non-euphoric version of cannabis — a process that ended with only six large companies being allowed to grow and distribute medical marijuana in Florida.

State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, who filed a medical marijuana bill last year, favors a system that lets anyone apply for a medical marijuana business license and lets dispensers operate separately from growers, opening up opportunities for small, minority-owned companies.

Brandes also wants cities to have some say on where dispensaries may be located. "We really do want to have local control," he said. "My constituents want that."

Local control could allow some communities to ban dispensaries altogether, but Brandes envisions someone creating a regulated delivery service that helps patients too sick to travel.

Boca Raton vice mayor Robert Weinroth said that while he believes in local control, this is a situation where "the Legislature should preempt and have a statewide policy on how we're going to handle this."

"If we start going city by city, county by county, and one county is a little bit more lenient in regulation, it could find itself the pot capital of Florida," he said. "We'd be much better served with uniform regulations that come down from the legislature using the same criteria, enforcement and implementation."

A Coral Springs memo said the moratorium will allow staff to "study the impact on crime, demand on city services, surrounding property values, traffic, congestion, and other aspects of the general public health, safety and welfare."

While crime is a concern anywhere, comparisons to pill mills appear unwarranted. Those clinics allowed shady doctors to prescribe deadly controlled substances for cash and drew out-of-state drug addicts to South Florida.

By contrast, everyone expects the medical marijuana industry to be tightly regulated. The amendment limits its use to patients with a list of debilitating conditions, including cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other related diseases.

Besides, over half the country has legalized medical marijuana, and there's no indication that local dispensaries have created an increase in crime. Few would question pharmacies in their cities.

With more questions than answers right now, it makes sense for cities to pass temporary moratoriums. But once the state draws the roadmap for medical marijuana, local leaders should remember that a vast majority of Floridians have said they support access to those it can help.

Click here for original story by Sun Sentinel Editorial Board

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