Page 52 - SFHNMay2020finalUF.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

Royal Labs Ramps Up FLORIDA HEMP
Production to Meet COUNCIL:
Demand for COVID-19 Can’t Slow
Hand Sanitizer Spray and Down Florida Hemp
Hand Wash
page 47
page 43

May 2020

2019 Cannabis Business Award’s Publication of the Year

Possible Benefits of the CARES Act

for Cannabis Employers

BY ROMEO CHICCO, CPA

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act was passed late March in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide
much-needed economic relief to individuals and
businesses. Unfortunately, one of the benefits most
talked about in the news is not available to cannabis Derek Hundley
related businesses; the Paycheck Protection Program
Michael J. Liss
(PPP), but there are other sections of the Act that can
Cannabis and the be taken advantage of. DocMJ Turns to
The next best part of the Act for businesses may be
Section 2301, the Employee Retention Credit (ERC),
Workplace - and I have even found that for some businesses this Telemedicine
may actually be a better option. A business cannot do
Realities and both, the PPP and the ERC, so if you have secured a Romeo Chicco During the
PPP, this section is not for you. Eligible employers are
allowed a credit against employment taxes for each calendar quarter equal to 50% of
Trends qualified wages paid to each employee. The wage amount is limited to $10,000 across Coronavirus
all calendar quarters ($5,000 maximum credit, per employee). The credit is fully
refundable because the employer may receive a refund if the amount of the credit is Pandemic
BY MICHAEL J. LISS, ESQ.
Continued on page 49 BY DANIEL CASCIATO
Marijuana remains illegal under fed-
eral law. While Florida has a medical Even in the midst of the coronavirus
marijuana program, under our system pandemic, DocMJ remains dedicated to
of law, federal law controls on any issue Cannabis Spotlight helping its patients. As the largest med-
addressed by federal law, when it con- ical cannabis recommendation physician
flicts with a state law. Therefore, our network in the state of Florida, DocMJ
medical marijuana remains illegal. In Joey Kelley has 25 locations and over 45 physicians.
Florida’s medical marijuana statute While in-person visits have been mini-
(§381.986) there are specific references One Plant mized, DocMJ is primarily using
to cannabis and the workplace which telemedicine to service the needs of
affect the rights of employers and work- What benefits do you see for patients patients.
ers. They are consistent with Federal throughout Florida within this space? “We strive to provide the best service,
law. The following discusses some reali- The largest benefits would be third-party testing care and knowledge to our patients at the
ties and trends regarding cannabis in regulations, statewide delivery and the creation of most affordable pricing,” says Derek
the workplace. essential job-creating businesses. The medical Hundley, Chief Operating Officer for
Drug testing: The Florida statute gov- cannabis available to the patients of Florida goes DOCMJ.
erning our medical program specifically through the most regulated third-party testing system On March 16, Governor Ron DeSantis
allows employers to maintain drug-free in the nation. Only licensed testing labs are approved and the Office of the Surgeon
workplaces (workers compensation to handle and test products coming from MMTC’s. It General/Department of Health (DOH)
plans which have certain drug-testing can take up to 4 days from the time a batch of prod- allowed current medical cannabis
obligations in exchange for reduced ucts is made until the results are made live and the Joey Kelley patients to conduct follow-up visits
insurance premiums) and specifically batch can be sold. Quality control and assurance is through telemedicine. By March 18,
states that employers can’t be sued for taken very seriously. Statewide delivery also is a huge resource to our patients, allow- Hundley says they had implemented
wrongful discharge or discrimination ing the most remote citizens the ability to medicate using cannabis. Being a medical telemedicine into its practice.
for firing employees for cannabis use. market here in Florida allows for the creation of essential businesses. Not only is One “Prior to that we were taking precau-
This means that employers can drug test Plant adding an essential service to the patients of the state, but a huge employment tions to ensure our patients, staff and
as a condition of hiring, continued opportunity for the residents as well. physicians were at minimal risk by prac-
employment or upon suspicion of ticing social distancing, not coming in
impairment at work. With at-will What motivates you to be a part of the Cannabis industry? with an elevated temperature or sick and
employment, unless prevented by a pol- I have been an advocate for the use of cannabis since joining NORML@UCF while using protective equipment,” he says.
icy manual or other contract, an in college. It was there that I learned about the many uses and benefits of cannabis. I “With the seriousness of the COVID-19
employer can request a drug test of an
met people like Cathy Jordan, Irv Rosenfeld and Elvy Musikka; people that really pandemic, we did not take the possibility
Continued on page 51 Continued on page 46 Continued on page 45