Page 36 - SF HOSPITAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2020

CANNABIS One Plant
BUSINESS Opens New
DIRECTORY Dispensary
in Avon Park
page 30
page 35

November 2020

2019 Cannabis Business Award’s Publication of the Year

A Tax Defense Approach: Marc Egort, CPA, PA

BY BARBARA R. FALLON The Firm
Marc Egort, CPA, PA, is a South Florida CPA
The cannabis industry has a cast of charac- firm of five dedicated professionals serving a
ters, each with a focused target on creating variety of industries and individuals from
standard operating procedures to guide per- Architects to Yachtsman and everything in
formance and production and improve their between. Founded by Marc Egort in 1999, the
piece of the industry’s operating boundaries. boutique firm which bears his name, is built on
For example, clinicians work to prescribe his personal experience in the home health care
effective and safe dosages for medicinal pur- industry. More than three decades focusing on
poses while patients seek relief from pain and finance, reimbursement, cost reporting and
disease symptoms. Researchers seek a scien- accounting on the home health circuit, elevated
tific evaluation of various strains for usage him with a reputation as an industry expert. In Michael Liss
while labs and scientists test for potency and addition to this professional experience he is
contamination. Lawyers maneuver through surrounded and supported by industry leading Florigrown,
legislative regulations while politicians weigh Marc Egort accountants with Big Ten firm experience, retail
the outcomes of legislative policies legitimiz- expertise and ecommerce, broadening the base of Again
ing the expanding industry. Activists support expansion of clients.
usage from medicinal to recreational purposes while commu- “Our mission is a personal commitment to protect and be in
nities weigh the benefits and risks. a position to defend financial practices of every client,” Egort BY MICHAEL LISS, ESQ.
BUT the question is how a vertically integrated relationship said. To that end he advises that the best defense is a good
of growers, producers, sellers, and investors navigate the com- offense. Florida’s medical cannabis system may
plex tax rules when the industry (still relatively new) is evolv- According to Egort, the firm builds compliance from the soon be found unconstitutional by the
ing on a daily basis. ground up assisting clients within a controlled business strate- Florida Supreme Court. In a case called
The smart ones partner with a tax accountant versed in gy to collectively: “Florigrown,” the court will soon rule
financial disciplines of accounting, bookkeeping, tax, assur- • create, document, and follow policy and procedure after hearing a very unusual second
ance, cash flow analysis and consulting as relates to the • chart and correctly account for all related costs round of oral arguments. Also unusual, it
cannabis industry. • consistently apply a collective financial discipline at a was the Justices who requested more time
to hear additional arguments, not one of
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the parties.
The first round of briefs and arguments
Cannabis Spotlight addressed several issues which the State
of Florida said were errors in how the
trial and appellate courts ruled.
Florigrown, a company which was
Connie Woolsey many Veterans had been prescribed numerous denied a license to operate as a Medical
pills and medications to treat his medical con-
Marijuana Treatment Center (“MMTC”),
Director of Retail Operations, FL ditions. These medications had profound neg- despite being qualified under the law’s
ative side effects on his health and life and was criteria, won an injunction from a trial
One Plant
unbearable to watch. We started educating court ordering Florida’s Department of
What benefits do you see for ourselves on cannabis and the various meth- Health to issue a license to it. To deter-
patients throughout Florida within ods available and learned what worked and mine that the license should be issued,
this space? what didn’t. He was able to get off multiple the trial court found that Florida’s
I believe cannabis offers tremendous health medications which changed our lives. Once “Medical use of marijuana” law, §381.986
benefits for a variety of medical conditions and medical marijuana became available in was unconstitutional. All was affirmed on
beyond. I don’t think we have even scratched Florida, I was determined to get involved in appeal.
the surface on the full capabilities of this plant. the industry to help change the conversation The Supreme Court heard oral argu-
I have witnessed many of these benefits first- and stigma surrounding the plant and its use. ments after the briefs of the parties had

hand and believe cannabis is a safer alternative What field are you in within the been submitted, with the State of Florida
to many traditional forms of health care man- Connie Woolsey cannabis space? defending the law as passed by the legis-
agement. Florida patients will benefit as prod- lature, and asking the Supreme Court to
uct variety continues to expand across the state so that patients I am the Director of Retail for One Plant and oversee retail set aside the order to issue the license.
may find the right product to meet their needs. operations, customer service and delivery. After arguments but prior to ruling, the
justices asked the State and Florigrown to
What motivates you to be a part of the cannabis How can people in Florida benefit from the com- file new briefs and prepare for new oral
Industry? pany you represent? arguments on a particular issue. The
I have seen cannabis transform the lives of many people It all begins with our flower. Our vision is to create a remark- issue is whether our “Medical use of mar-
looking to take control of their health and wellness, for me able experience through exceptional cannabis. I am blessed to ijuana” statute amounts to a “special
specifically it started with my husband. He is a Veteran and like work alongside a team where everyone from cultivation to law”, which is a type of law deemed
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