The expansion of medical marijuana sufferers in Florida, nonetheless the nation’s greatest medical-only market, is exhibiting indicators of slowing.
Latest knowledge from the state Workplace of Medical Marijuana Use reveals a modest enhance within the variety of certified sufferers year-over-year, however the tempo of progress seems to have decelerated, in accordance with New Hashish Ventures.
Nonetheless, each general medical marijuana gross sales in addition to the variety of licensed dispensaries continues to develop.
In January, Florida reported 895,469 energetic MMJ sufferers with ID playing cards. By December, the quantity had risen to 930,643, reflecting a rise of 35,174 sufferers over 11 months.
This interprets to a median month-to-month progress of about 3,200 sufferers.
Whereas the expansion is optimistic, it’s slower in comparison with earlier years with the MMJ program was increasing extra quickly.
A number of components could contribute to the pattern.
First, the market could also be approaching saturation, with a good portion of eligible sufferers already enrolled.
Second, regulatory or logistical limitations, reminiscent of the applying course of or doctor availability may very well be limiting new affected person registrations.
The variety of certified physicians was 2,462 in January, and there’s no indication of great progress, which might constrain affected person entry.
Florida medical marijuana gross sales, dispensaries enhance
The quantity of medical marijuana bought additionally highlights developments within the MMJ market.
The overall quantity of MMJ allotted in milligrams of THC elevated from 358.3 million in early January to 437.4 million by December.
The variety of dispensaries elevated from 702 to 735 throughout the identical interval.
The information means that whereas affected person progress is slowing, current sufferers are utilizing MMJ merchandise extra extensively, and the market infrastructure continues to broaden.
Florida hashish operators are hoping for adult-use legalization.
A proposed constitutional modification that will legalize hashish for adults 21 and over, supported by Tallahassee-based marijuana multistate operator Trulieve Hashish, is gathering signatures regardless of obstacles from the state.
