Pubdate: Sat, 11 Oct 2014
Source: News Herald (Panama City, FL)
Copyright: 2014 The News Herald
Contact:  http://www.newsherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1018
Author: Valerie Garman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

CONSULTANT CALLS FLORIDA 'PERFECT STORM' FOR MARIJUANA BUSINESS

PANAMA CITY - Adam Bierman describes Florida as a "perfect storm" for
the medical marijuana industry.

Bierman is a managing partner with The MedMen, a medical marijuana
consulting firm that helps aspiring business owners tap into the new
industry.

"We've never seen a state like Florida before," said Bierman,
referencing the state's large entrepreneurial business community and
large health care business community. "You add that all up and it
lends itself very well to this new industry of marijuana."

MedMen works in states with a merit-based system for medical marijuana
licensing, which includes Illinois, Nevada and Massachusetts, and is
looking into launching operations in Florida.

"Right now, we're taking on clients that are pursuing licensing for
the Charlotte's Web bill," Bierman said. "We're helping folks with
that and we're having a lot of conversations with people gearing up
for Amendment 2."

The Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act became law earlier this year,
legalizing the noneuphoric "Charlotte's Web" strain of medical
marijuana. Voters also will decide the fate Amendment 2 this November,
which would fully legalize medical marijuana if approved.

So far, Bierman said the response for their services in Florida has
been overwhelming.

"As far as what we do, we're ... the only management company in the
marijuana world," Bierman said. "We work with the proprietors and we
run those businesses through our services and our brand."

Bierman likened Florida's route to legalization to that of Nevada,
which also approached the issue as a constitutional amendment.

"Amendment 2 is both very vague and very specific," Bierman said of
the measure, which calls for the Florida Department of Health to
implement the medical marijuana regulatory system. "The truth of the
matter is that if the bill was more specific, it would be more vague."

Even if Amendment 2 were to pass this November, a measure requiring 60
percent approval, medical marijuana would not be available overnight.
Bierman estimated it would be the first quarter of 2016 before the
retail side could be open and selling, and late 2015 for the
Charlotte's Web strain.

Experience

For aspiring medical marijuana entrepreneurs Glenda White and Tanisha
Patterson, a mother-daughter duo from St. Louis, Mo., navigating the
licensing application process in both Nevada and Illinois was
something they could not do alone.

"The right guidance, being affiliated with the right people, it's
definitely important," said Patterson, who enlisted the help of The
MedMen to aid in the process to open a medical marijuana retail and
dispensary center and cultivation center. "They were very selective
about who they would actually take on as clients. Being such a new
industry and wanting to get into the industry, they kind of gave us
the guidance we needed."

Patterson, who carries an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and a
master's in business administration, and White, a registered nurse,
have since submitted applications in both states and still are waiting
to hear the outcome.

Nevada voters approved a measure to legalize medical marijuana in the
state in 2000, while the law crafted and approved by the Illinois
Legislature went into effect in January of this year. Both programs
were implemented by the respective state departments of health.

White said the pair chose to hire a consultant to help throughout the
process.

"I think using the consultant, someone who has experience, will help
you minimize the flaws, and the things you don't know how to do,"
White said. "We had no experience with medical marijuana, and that's
why we chose a consultant to help guide us along the way."

Bierman said most states' complicated application processes all but
require outside assistance.

"If Florida goes the way the preceding three states have gone, it will
be impossible," Bierman said. "One person cannot complete this
application."  
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MAP posted-by: Richard