Though medical cannabis has been legal in Florida for more than 1-1/2 years, there is still much confusion—as well as concern—about who qualifies to be a patient, and the legislative hurdles that a person has to overcome in order to find relief from various conditions. Still, the good news is that many Floridians are finding relief with medical cannabis, and that progress is being made—albeit slowly.

“The bottom line is that anybody who wants to be a medical cannabis patient in Florida can be,” explained Barry Gordon, M.D., of the Compassionate Cannabis Clinic. “You need to find a doctor who will advocate for you, and who knows the right questions to ask to work within the law.
 
“For example, chronic pain is not well handled in Florida law because it is supposed to be caused by one of the 10 conditions enumerated in the law, but fibromyalgia, or phantom pain cause by amputation, are not covered under these conditions,” he added. “You need to look at how the law is written to see if there is the same kind of classification, or a condition that is comparable.”
 
Dr. Gordon gives the example of patients who have to consistently take steroids or benzodiazepine for chronic pain or Ambien for sleep, which results in a high level of anxiety. “People know that they can’t take these types of drugs forever; society has shown us the disastrous results that come from using narcotics, including addiction or even death,” he said. “Patients are looking for a natural alternative, and cannabis is not physically addictive and has never killed anyone.
 
“People who want to be in the program deserve to be in the program, and to have access to a high-quality, highly tested product in the strain and specificity they need,” he added.
 
Patients who turn to the black market for pain relief won’t find what they need, according to Dr. Gordon, because no one provides a combined THC/CBD product. “The CBD component and other helpful cannabinoids have been bred out because they diminish the intoxicant effects of THC,” he explained. “They can’t get THC in the CBD world, because in the 30 CBD shops in Sarasota County that sell hemp-based products, including smokable hemp flower, those products have less than a .3 percent level of THC. And you don’t know if the products are clean or have mold or fungus.
 
“Only in the legitimate medical cannabis world, which is very regulated, can you get both,” he added. “And every patient deserves to have a safer product.”
 
Dr. Gordon suggests that new patients first ask their own doctors to recommend medical cannabis, but if that is unsuccessful, to contact him or any of the other doctors on the state’s medical cannabis website.
 
“Any doctor in the state can sign up to recommend medical cannabis, but many choose not to or can’t because of the hospital system with which they are affiliated,” he explained. “Some aren’t comfortable with it because it wasn’t taught in medical school.
 
“Not all practices are equal, though, so do your research,” he added. “Find out if this is something that the doctor does every day; check their references, and even see what people have to say on Facebook.”
 
Patients shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking how cannabis can help, either. “Thirty-three percent of my patients have never used cannabis before,” said Dr. Gordon. “They never even knew anyone who used it! They are fascinated that people can use it and still pay bills and raise kids.
 
“The fact is, medical cannabis is not a social destructor,” he added. “I’ve never had to resuscitate a cannabis addict in the ER, or treat a wife who was beaten up by her husband while he was on cannabis. I’ve never lost a professional partner to cannabis, like I have to drugs or alcohol.”
 
Despite its positive effects, Dr. Gordon says that those who are in favor of medical cannabis still face an uphill battle in Florida.
 
“The Republican leaders, including Gov. Rick Scott and Surgeon General and Secretary of the Florida Department of Health Celeste Philip, push back at every level,” he said. “Even though John Morgan won his smoking case, the state appealed within minutes. In another trial about the right to grow cannabis, despite winning, we have to go to the Supreme Court to testify again.
 
“This will continue as long as we have Republican leaders,” he said, adding that he invites politicians of all parties to visit his clinic to learn more about the benefits of medical cannabis.
 
“I see remarkable results every day,” he added. “I love conventional healthcare, but there needs to be an alternative to opioids to help people.”


Did you know that the legal cannabis industry is currently 9 billion dollars and expected to grow to over 24 billion in the next few years? There are over 30 states which have medical cannabis businesses, 9 with adult use and additional state legalization on the table in the upcoming elections. Some predictions estimate we may see full federal legalization by 2019.

These changes in laws have created opportunities for investors to find early stage companies which are developing solutions for the scaling, management, and operations of this industry. Investors are finding these companies before they are acquired or go IPO, and some mergers and acquisitions have already begun in the space.
 
I am asked all the time by friends how they can be involved or invest in these opportunities. So, I decided to break down what is available.
 
New businesses are providing the services to the cannabis industry like trash removal, security systems, build out, marketing, education, testing, corporate training, payroll processing, compliance, ancillary products for use, analytics, branding, sales, tours, entertainment, and media. The list goes on and on!
 
These types of ventures are currently being funded by angel investors, accelerators, VC funds, and some through the public markets.
 
Angel Investors
Angel investing involves capital investments by accredited investors (people with a net worth of $1 million or more excluding the value of their primary residence, or with income of $200,000 or more per year/ $300,000 for a married couple). These investments are in startups, usually with less than $1 million in revenue and less than five years old. These startups have high growth potential and angel investors look to invest in companies that have a believable plan to be able to return 10X their investment or more within five years. 
 
The ArcView network is a membership group of investors which hold approximately 5 live events per year. They structure it like “Shark Tank” where companies pitch on stage and are rated by the investors. This is one way investors are locating new companies or participating in private offerings.
 
Accelerators
 Business accelerators like CanopyBoulder invest in early-stage startups in the cannabis industry and provide them with additional resources. This is similar to how tech startups launch, validate and fund their pre-seed and seed rounds. They raise money through a fund and then deploy into new companies. Since 2015 CanopyBoulder specifically has helped 80 companies go from idea to funding with initial seed capital and follow-on investments.
 
VC Funds
Venture capital funds are investment funds that manage the money of investors who seek private equity stakes in startup and small- to medium-sized enterprises with strong growth potential. These investments are generally characterized as high-risk/high-return opportunities. In the past, venture capital investments were only accessible to professional venture capitalists, although now accredited investors have a greater ability to take part in venture capital investments.
 
The cannabis space has had numerous funds start over the last 5 years. These funds such as CanopyVentures, Phyto Partners, and Privateer Holdings to name a few.
 
Public Markets
A majority of the cannabis stocks are over the counter (OTC). These companies have either reverse merged with an existing listing or IPO. This allows for anyone to purchase equity through shares.
 
Investing in these takes a lot of research, many are not reporting and the price per share is inflated due to the hype, press releases and pending regulations inflating their fair value. There is money to be made by diligent investors, however, there is also a risk. Advisory services like Technical420 and Marijuanastocks.com track these companies and research their fundamentals.
 
Most recently 2 companies made headlines with over billion-dollar valuations on the Canadian market, MedMen $MMEN and The Green Organic Dutchman $TGOD both raised capital through private offerings initially prior to being listed.
 
In summary, the cannabis industry is full of creative, innovative opportunities for both investors and founders. Currently, there are potentially billions of dollars sitting on the sidelines unable to invest in the industry due to regulations and unclear legalities. This presents an opportunity to the early investors; however, these opportunities do come with risk. My advice to anyone is to do your homework, research and understand not only the legalities of the industry but the companies and individuals involved. Historically there are more failures than successes in startup companies, however, the rewards of finding the next billion-dollar unicorn do exist.


EVIO Florida Awarded 7 Emerald Scientific Proficiency Testing Gold Badges

Broward County, Florida- EVIO Labs Florida has been recognized for their participation in The Emerald Test®, an inter-laboratory comparison and proficiency assessment for cannabis testing. EVIO Florida was recognized by Emerald for their accuracy in: Potency in Solution, Residual Solvents, Terpenes, Microbial 2, Aspergillus Mold, Pesticide Screening, and Mycotoxin testing. “Our experienced team of chemists are among the best in the industry and these awards provide the acknowledgement of our efforts to operate above the standard.” Chris Martinez, President EVIO Florida.
 
The Emerald Test® acknowledgement helps demonstrate EVIO Florida’s aptitude and competence in conducting analytical testing at a higher standard of excellence for Florida’s Cannabis industry. The Emerald Test® Badge results provide a measure of assurance and reliability to those who depend on precise laboratory results for patient safety, public health, and product precision.
The Emerald Test® uses the standard Inter-laboratory Comparison Proficiency Testing (ILC/PT) program for evaluating how accurately and dependably testing labs perform, by comparing how well the lab measures blinded samples. ILC/PT programs are common in many testing industries, including environmental, food, pharmaceutical, water and petrochemical, providing a point of reference on how well testing laboratories perform individually and collectively. Laboratories can use their ILC/PT results to authenticate aptitude to clients, state regulating bodies, or to pinpoint analytical tests that may need further validation efforts.
 
EVIO Labs Florida is Florida’s First ISO Accredited Cannabis Testing Laboratory with locations in Broward and Alachua county. EVIO Florida has established a reputation for accuracy in cannabis testing, patient safety and method development.


As a company in the cannabis industry in Florida, would your operation be able to withstand the loss of any cannabis and cash in the event of a break in or robbery?

Most likely not.
 
Whether you operate a medicinal marijuana dispensary or grow operation, security is paramount. In fact, most cannabis regulations in states where its use is legal require that growers, storage facilities, and dispensaries have advanced video security systems on their premises. Florida’s state regulations regarding medical marijuana is written as follows:
 
To ensure the safety and security of premises where the cultivation, processing, storing, or dispensing of marijuana occurs, and to maintain adequate controls against the diversion, theft, and loss of marijuana or marijuana delivery devices, a medical marijuana treatment center shall:
 
• Maintain a fully operational security alarm system that secures all entry points and perimeter windows and is equipped with motion detectors; pressure switches; and duress, panic, and hold-up alarms; and
• Maintain a video surveillance system that records continuously 24 hours a day and meets the following criteria:
(I) Cameras are fixed in a place that allows for the clear identification of persons and activities in controlled areas of the premises. Controlled areas include grow rooms, processing rooms, storage rooms, disposal rooms or areas, and point-of-sale rooms.
(II) Cameras are fixed in entrances and exits to the premises, which shall record from both indoor and outdoor, or ingress and egress, vantage points.
(III) Recorded images must clearly and accurately display the time and date.
(IV) Retain video surveillance recordings for at least 45 days or longer upon the request of a law enforcement agency.
 
“With so many regulations in the marijuana industry in Florida, keeping up to date on the security regulations and staying in compliance can be quite the challenge,” says Jeremy Stewart, VP of Global Marketing for Swann Communications.
 
Since the industry is mainly a cash business appealing to thieves, Stewart notes that both growers and sellers have to safeguard their product and at the same time protect their profits from theft.
 
“Security concerns are common in the cannabis industry as more states begin to legalize either recreational or medical marijuana,” adds Jeremy Stewart. “It’s a product that is moving away from the black market so naturally there is some cause for concern.”
 
From its more than 30 years of experience of providing security solutions for homes and businesses, Swann Communications has the tools and strategies to help with your cannabis security needs, according to Stewart.
 
“We recognized that there was demand for sophisticated security needs in this market,” he says. “We have the expertise that those in the cannabis industry need and we offer a variety of affordable and compliant security solutions.”
 
The security company, founded by David Swann in his family home in Melbourne, Australia, has a presence in over 40 countries on 6 continents with offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and China. Swann pioneered the category of Do-it-Yourself security. In its years of operation the company has helped hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and communities feel safer.
 
Swann offers a variety of security solutions to help protect, and stay connected to, your property. Most of its security systems have 4 to 16 channel options, suitable for large properties and businesses, and provide remote viewing, enabling you to view security footage remotely either from a computer, your smartphone or tablet. Nearly all of its security cameras have night vision, are IP66 or IP67 weather rated so it’s suitable for the outdoors.
 
One of the most exciting developments Swann has introduced to security this year is a positive for the cannabis industry. Most Swann systems launched this year will feature True Detect™ heat and motion sensing technology, meaning they can detect people and cars, avoiding false triggers from wind, leaves and rain. Once triggered, today’s cameras can send you a push notification on your Smartphone and commence recording. It saves you unnecessary worry, let’s you know what’s happening almost instantly and means you can record more of the incidents and activity you care about.
 
No matter your needs, Stewart notes that Swann will design and develop a security system that not only protects your inventory but also ensures compliance with Florida state law.
 
“As with all of the security solutions that we offer to our customers, early detection and prevention of potential loss is our primary objective,” he says. “If you have the proper security system and protocols in place, it will help prevent losses and keep your product safe and protected giving you peace of mind.”


When Nicole “Nikki” Fried opened her full-service government consulting firm, Igniting Florida LLC, in 2016, her goal was to make a difference in Tallahassee and Broward County. With clients now including San Felasco Nurseries, Florida’s Children First and the Broward County School Board, she is quickly earning a reputation for doing just that.

While her clients are diverse, she says that one thing unites them. “It’s all about compassion,” she explained. “It’s about taking care of people who sometimes can’t take care of themselves or who need extra assistance, like Parkinson’s patients who need access to medical marijuana, or special needs children who should have attorneys representing their interests in court. While I work in different silos, I bring the same passion to each client, trying to provide a better life for them.”
 
A graduate of the University of Florida with a BA in political science, a master’s in political campaigning and a law degree from the university’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Fried was previously employed at Colodny Fass, where she says that she “cut her teeth” on all things Tallahassee.
 
“After gaining San Felasco Nurseries as a client, I realized that they needed my undivided attention,” she explained of her decision to start her own firm to help service one of the six companies that has a license to grow and dispense medical marijuana in the state. “I could tell that this would be a fast-growing industry, so I took the ball and rolled with it.”
 
Fried was involved from day one, working on the legal parameters and legislative aspects of medical marijuana in Florida, and lobbying for the rights of patients with the passage of HB 307, which recognized the rights of terminally ill patients to experiment with non-FDA approved remedies, including medicinal cannabis.
 
While Fried leads statewide and local lobbying efforts for San Felasco Nurseries, other license holders, physicians’ associations and industry groups look to her leadership and guidance to help steer the future of Florida’s medical marijuana program.
 
“We have a vibrant medical marijuana industry in Florida, but there is a lot of work to be done as there are a lot of hoops to jump through,” Fried said. “We’re slowly but surely going to get there.”
 
Fried is currently working on everything from putting together a legislative platform for 2019 to working on issues that need to be fixed within the current regulations. “I spend a significant amount of time in Washington D.C. fighting on behalf of the industry, including producers, bankers, physicians and insurers,” she explained. “I bring a lot of knowledge to the table, and have years of experience working with elected and appointed officials and the industry.”
 
According to Fried, there are a number of issues that require attention. “Next year, I see big changes coming on the national level, including states’ rights, protecting medical marijuana, and regulations concerning financial institutions,” she said.
 
“Within the state, I see changes in the regulatory framework—the loosening of some rules, and the expansion of ‘allowed’ conditions as a way to deal with the opiate crisis—to give more patients the option to use medical marijuana as opposed to addictive drugs pushed by pharmaceutical companies.”
 
In addition to her role in the medical marijuana industry, Fried has also earned a reputation for championing children’s rights. She works with Florida’s Children First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the rights of children, especially those in foster care. In this role, she helped to accomplish the passage of HB 561, which provides $4.5 million in appropriations to ensure Florida’s special needs dependent children have access to lawyers.
 
“I consider this one of my greatest accomplishments,” said Fried. “We’ve now got attorneys speaking on behalf of our children; not just for the state or the parents or guardians.
 
“What I do with medical marijuana, and foster kids, and the school system—a lot comes down to education,” she added. “I’m frustrated with the partisan mindset on human issues—issues that just require common sense. This political divide does a disservice to our citizens. Education and advocacy break down stereotypes, and working together, we can make lives better for all people. I wake up every day with the drive to make a difference.”