In the medical marijuana space you have the previously initiated and the newly initiated. I’m speaking of those who’d had experience with the product(s) prior to the state sanctioning and those who are newbies upon receive their medical marijuana cards. As I covered last week, medical marijuana was the second fastest growing industry in our state last year. Year over year, Florida’s averaged adding 501 new medical marijuana patients per day. One of the somewhat interesting dynamics is the realm of expectations and reality.
Earlier in the week it was made clear medical marijuana THC caps aren’t going to pass in this year’s state session. Governor DeSantis said on Monday, "I have not endorsed that. That is not something I’m pushing. I’ve talked with Chris about it and it’s not something I’m endorsing". That alone would make any legislation DOA at the governor’s desk but it won’t be getting that far anyway because Senate Chair Jeff Brandes said it’s a non-starter that he won’t spend time considering in this year’s session. So, the industry will remain as it is. But it does raise the question. How much THC is in typical street product and what’s being sold through Florida’s medical marijuana program?
Studies have shown that typical street joints averaged around 60mg today. Indecently, 5mg is the baseline by which the brain generally will experience a THC induced “high”. The proposed caps in Florida were to limit doses at 10mg for comparison’s sake. Approximately 90% of the medical marijuana products available in Florida are currently “high level” THC offerings. Those with 25mg or more. This gives you an idea regarding the extent of an impact a reduction to 10mg would have made. Of course, there are also concentrates which go far higher but aren’t recommended for use in concentrated form. The bottom line is that those becoming initiated with medical marijuana today are often experiencing a stronger product than what was on the street 40 years ago. And it’s going to stay that way in Florida.
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