Florida pot growers react to recreational marijuana possibility in Florida

FOX 35 Orlando

3 Feb 202302:06

Summary

TLDRIn Apopka, Florida, cannabis farmer Patrick O'Brien expresses concern over a proposed recreational marijuana initiative. While recreational marijuana is gaining support, O'Brien argues that the initiative favors large corporations like Trulieve, disadvantaging small independent shops. Although the initiative has gathered enough signatures to potentially appear on the next November ballot, O'Brien and others worry it will monopolize the market, preventing fair competition and possibly costing Florida millions of dollars. The debate highlights tensions between large cannabis companies and local growers in the push for recreational marijuana legalization.

Takeaways

🚫 The owner of a cannabis farm in Apopka is not supportive of the proposed recreational marijuana initiative.
🌿 The business, Chronic Guru, uses low THC hemp plants to produce products like sativa pre-rolls.
🛒 The shop offers a variety of cannabis products, including sativa hybrids and top-shelf flower, without medical marijuana prices.
📉 Patrick O'Brien, owner of Chronic Guru, believes the initiative favors large pot companies and is detrimental to smaller, independent shops.
💰 The initiative is funded by 'true leave' and would allow only a few state-licensed medical marijuana companies to sell recreationally to people over 21.
🔒 There is concern that the initiative is locking in benefits for a select few companies, to the detriment of the broader community.
🗳️ Recreational marijuana has passed a significant hurdle, gathering enough signatures to potentially appear on the November ballot.
📉 Florida could potentially lose millions of dollars if the initiative passes as currently written.
👥 There is a divide in the community, with some Floridians supporting the ability to buy marijuana recreationally, similar to alcohol.
🙅‍♂️ Despite not personally using marijuana for recreational purposes, Patrick O'Brien is against the initiative due to its current structure.
🚀 The initiative aims to make recreational marijuana a reality in Florida, but there is a significant pushback from some local growers.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?
-The main topic discussed is the potential legalization of recreational marijuana in Florida and its impact on local cannabis growers and businesses.
What is the setting of the video report?
-The setting is a cannabis farm in Apopka, Florida, specifically in the greenhouse of the farm.
Who is Patrick O'Brien and what is his stance on recreational marijuana legalization?
-Patrick O'Brien is the owner of the Chronic Guru in Apopka. He is not in favor of the proposed recreational marijuana initiative, as he believes it heavily favors large pot companies at the expense of smaller, independent shops.
What type of products does Patrick O'Brien's business currently offer?
-Patrick O'Brien's business offers low THC hemp products, including sativa pre-rolls and other cannabis-related items.
What is the concern of smaller cannabis businesses regarding the proposed recreational marijuana initiative?
-The concern is that the initiative is funded by and would benefit large companies, making it difficult for smaller, independent businesses to compete and enter the market.
What is the current status of the recreational marijuana initiative in Florida?
-The initiative has cleared a significant hurdle by gathering more than the required number of signatures and is on track to appear on the November ballot.
What are the potential economic implications for Florida if the initiative passes as written?
-If the initiative passes, Florida could potentially lose millions of dollars due to the monopoly-like control of a few companies holding state licenses to sell medical pot recreationally.
What is the age requirement for purchasing recreational marijuana if the initiative passes?
-The age requirement would be for people over 21 years old.
What is the comparison being made between the sale of recreational marijuana and another legal substance?
-The comparison is made between the sale of recreational marijuana and the sale of alcohol, suggesting that people should be able to buy marijuana in the same way they can buy alcohol.
What is the term used to describe the type of cannabis that Patrick O'Brien's business uses?
-The term used is 'low THC hemp plants,' which indicates a lower psychoactive potency compared to other cannabis strains.
What does Patrick O'Brien believe needs to happen for the recreational marijuana market to be fair for smaller businesses?
-Patrick O'Brien believes that the market needs to be opened up in a way that allows 'mom and pop' shops to have a fair chance to enter the market, rather than being dominated by large companies.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Resistance to Recreational Marijuana Legalization

The script discusses the debate over the legalization of recreational marijuana in Florida. Despite the initiative gaining momentum, not all local growers support it. The owner of a cannabis farm in Apopka, Patrick O'Brien, expresses his concerns about the proposed legislation, arguing that it favors large pot companies at the expense of smaller, independent businesses. He emphasizes the need for a fair system that allows smaller businesses to compete, pointing out that the current bills are not in favor of local growers. The initiative, funded by large companies, would only allow a few state-licensed medical pot sellers to sell recreationally to people over 21. O'Brien suggests that if the initiative passes as is, Florida could miss out on millions in potential revenue.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Recreational marijuana

Recreational marijuana refers to the use of cannabis for non-medical purposes, primarily for enjoyment or relaxation. In the video script, it is a central topic as it is being discussed in the context of its potential legalization in Florida. The script mentions that the initiative to legalize recreational marijuana has gained momentum and is closer to being on the ballot, which would allow adults over 21 to purchase and consume marijuana similarly to alcohol.

💡Legalization

Legalization in this context means the process of making the use and sale of a substance, in this case marijuana, legal under the law. The script discusses the ongoing efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida, indicating that it has cleared a significant hurdle by gathering the necessary signatures to potentially appear on the November ballot.

💡Cannabis farm

A cannabis farm is a facility where cannabis plants are cultivated, typically for the production of marijuana. The script mentions a visit to a greenhouse of a cannabis farm in Apopka, which is significant as it provides a backdrop for discussing the potential impact of recreational marijuana legalization on local growers and businesses.

💡Low THC hemp plants

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. Low THC hemp plants are those that contain a low concentration of THC, often used for industrial purposes or in products that do not produce a 'high.' The script references these plants being used by the business 'Chronic Guru' to make products like pre-rolls, highlighting the current legal uses of cannabis in Florida.

💡Initiative

In the context of the script, an initiative refers to a proposed law or policy that is being put forward for public consideration, typically through a ballot measure. The recreational marijuana initiative mentioned in the script is an example of this, aiming to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Florida.

💡State license

A state license in this context refers to the legal permission granted by the state to operate a business, in this case, a medical marijuana business. The script points out that the proposed recreational marijuana initiative would only allow companies holding a state license to sell marijuana recreationally, indicating a potential limitation on who can participate in the new market.

💡Mom and pop

The term 'mom and pop' is often used to describe small, family-owned businesses. In the script, Patrick O'Brien of 'Chronic Guru' argues that the recreational marijuana initiative should be fair and allow small businesses like his to participate, suggesting that the current proposal favors larger companies.

💡Medical marijuana

Medical marijuana refers to the use of the cannabis plant or its extracts for medical purposes. The script discusses how the current initiative is funded by companies that hold state licenses for medical marijuana, suggesting that they would be the primary beneficiaries of the recreational marijuana market if the initiative passes.

💡Funding

Funding in this context refers to the financial support provided to a campaign or initiative, such as the recreational marijuana initiative. The script mentions that the initiative is funded by 'True,' presumably a company or organization, indicating that there may be vested interests in the outcome of the initiative.

💡Ballot

A ballot in this context refers to the process of voting on a proposed law or policy, typically in a public election. The script states that the recreational marijuana initiative has gathered enough signatures to potentially appear on the November ballot, which is a significant step towards its potential legalization.

💡Revenue

Revenue in this context refers to the income generated from a particular activity, in this case, the sale of recreational marijuana. The script suggests that if the initiative passes as written, Florida could lose out on millions of dollars, implying that the current proposal may not be financially beneficial for the state.

Highlights

Recreational marijuana is picking up steam in Florida.

Local growers are not unanimously supportive of recreational marijuana legalization.

In Apopka, the owner of a cannabis farm is not thrilled about the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Patrick O'Brien's business, Chronic Guru, uses low THC hemp plants to make products.

O'Brien's farm offers sativa pre-rolls, which are convenient for ease of use.

Chronic Guru carries a variety of products, including indica, sativa, and hybrid strains.

O'Brien's business model focuses on affordability, avoiding medical marijuana prices.

O'Brien opposes the proposed recreational marijuana initiative, stating it favors large pot companies.

O'Brien believes the initiative would disadvantage smaller, independent shops.

The recreational marijuana initiative has gathered enough signatures to potentially appear on the next November ballot.

The initiative is funded by Trulieve, a major pot company.

If passed, the initiative would allow only a few companies with state licenses to sell recreational marijuana.

O'Brien argues that the initiative is designed to benefit large companies financially.

Some community members support recreational marijuana in principle but have concerns about the initiative.

There is a belief that if the initiative passes, Florida could lose out on millions of dollars.