Page 32 - SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS & HEALTHCARE REPORT JUNE 2022

CANNABIS Evaluating Formal
Cannabis
BUSINESS Educational
Opportunities
DIRECTORY

page 25 page 28

June 2022

2019 Cannabis Business Award’s Publication of the Year

The New Wave:

FL Anticipates to Double Number

of MMTC License Holders

BY BARBARA R. FALLON

A new ‘wave’ is heading to the Sunshine State which will essentially double the
number of licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) license holders
over the next 16 months. The Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical
Marijuana Use (OMMU) is currently processing the 2nd cycle of MMTC licenses,
authorizing these companies to start their infrastructure buildout process to help
Robert Platshorn Marc Egort
serve the 719,366 qualified patients (active ID cards as of May 13th, 2022 OMMU
webpage). Marc Egort,
Cannabis As with the current 22 Florida MMTC license holders, the new wave of companies
will be required to cultivate, process, and dispense (retail) low-THC cannabis and
Spotlight: medical marijuana. However, unlike a typical retail outlet which can simply open a CPA, P.A.:
store and purchase product directly from another company, the MMTC must be pro-
ficient at all product phases: grow-process-test-package before any product arrives at Helping Your
Robert Platshorn their own branded retail location. The term is commonly referred to as ‘vertically inte-
grated’ or ‘seed to sale.’
To a current or new MMTC license holder, ‘seed-to-sale’ means ‘a lot of infrastruc- Business
Robert Platshorn aka Robert “Bobby ture.’ This is where SR Construction Services (SRCS) fits in as a scalable 3rd party
Black Tuna” Platshorn is America’s longest partner of their organization. Early and consistent collaboration amongst the design Navigate
imprisoned nonviolent marijuana offend- & architectural team, contractor, and equipment vendors is key to avoiding costly and
er. Platshorn served a 30-year sentence for time-consuming design alterations during construction. the Cannabis
smuggling pot into Florida. He currently Partnering with a Florida-based, statewide, cannabis-experienced GC, familiar with
offers some of the best-selling strains of Continued on page 31
marijuana legally though Trulieve, one of Industry
Florida’s largest dispensaries.
BY DANIEL CASCIATO
What benefits do you see for Trulieve Announces PRIDE-related
patients throughout Florida with- South Florida-based Marc Egort, CPA,
in the cannabis space? Activities for June P.A., was among the first statewide
The vast majority of users in Florida are accounting firms to develop a portion of
seniors - my age group - who benefit from BY DANIEL CASCIATO its practice dedicated to serving the
use for pain, sleep, Parkinson’s, and lots of cannabis industry. Founded in 1999, by its
neurological and age-related illnesses, and Florida-based Trulieve, the largest namesake, Marc Egort, the dedicated pro-
epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorders, cannabis company in the state, fessionals at the firm had already been
arthritis and constipation to name a few. announced its vast initiatives for Pride working closely with clients to provide
Doctors have prescribed cannabis prod- Month, which directly support core accounting services, tax compliance,
ucts to ease side effects from cancer treat- LGBTQ+ communities and families and business consulting in various indus-
ment (such as chemotherapy) and sup- throughout the month of June. tries nationwide.
press the symptoms of many other dis- Trulieve is also launching several new The boutique CPA firm expanded its
eases. products this month. business four years ago to provide
Experts indicate that abuse of alcohol Trulieve will have three PRIDE accounting services to cannabis business-
and opioids can be reduced through use of related products launching: es, not just across the state, but across the
cannabis and marijuana products. • Mr. Fahrenheit and Mary & Jane Pre-Rolls – June 1 nation as well. It offers a broad spectrum
Whether it is included in tinctures, edi- • Rainbow TruPod – June 1 of accounting, financial reporting, tax
bles, vapes, gummies, powders, or oils, • 1g Love Wins Vape - June 12 compliance, and consulting services that
marijuana is an available therapy to They will host activations in select stores every weekend during PRIDE month, tied give cannabis businesses the insight they
decrease symptoms such as anxiety and to local area PRIDE events in Key West, Panama City, Orlando, St. Pete and more. need to grow and succeed.
pain (not limited to seniors) that can turn Stay tuned to social media to learn about when and where these events will take “I got involved with the cannabis indus-
patients into junkies who frequent ‘pill place. try for several reasons,” explains Egort.
mills’. Cannabis and marijuana have been The Company is activating a Bingo campaign in Florida where patients will be “My personal belief is that cannabis has a
shown to help patients gain weight, cope rewarded with $25 off $125 for completed cards, and they will donate $5 per card to lot to offer for medicinal and health pur-
with chemo, treat glaucoma symptoms, Metro Inclusive Health, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides quality health and poses. I also have a strong belief that there
and calm paranoia. Additionally, marijua- wellness services that are inclusive, relevant, supportive and represent the lifetime should be no incarceration for those who
na use can inhibit violent behavior and are users of cannabis. We're missing out on
continuum of the diverse people in our community.
Continued on page 27 Continued on page 26 Continued on page 29