2019 Cannabis Business Award's Publication of the Year |
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026 |
FMCPG HAS BEEN SERVING
AND REPRESENTING THE CANNABIS PHYSICIAN COMMUNITY SINCE 2020 |
THE
"FLORIDA MEDICAL CANNABIS PHYSICIAN GROUP" (FMCPG) FOR ALL "MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS"
AND "MMTC DIRECTORS ONLY "
WHAT THE ELECTION MEANS FOR FLORIDA CANNABIS
CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE RESCHEDULING OF CANNABIS BY THE FEDERAL GOVT
REVIEW OF THE OMMU AND CHANGES TO THE DOCTOR'S AND PATIENT INPUT PORTALS ON THE OMMU WEBSITE.
DOCTORS WITHIN OUR GROUP WILL DISCUSS HOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND SOME OF THE CHANGES
REF'S ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS
TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBER IN FMCPG
CLICK HERE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP FORM USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER FOR THE
NEXT MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2026 CLICK ON LINK BELOW |
MEDICAL CANNABIS PHYSICIAN PROMOTION PACKAGE FOR 2026 BY CANNABIS NEWS FLORIDA
ARTICLE: Physician will contribute an article of 350 words**. This article will appear in the Cannabis News Florida e-newsletter for one month (4 weeks).
E-MAIL BLAST: Cannabis News Florida will send out one e-mail blast promoting the Physician to the other physicians in three zip code areas or one city to be determined by the Physician. The Physician will supply the information for the email blast. The Article above can be used in the e-mail blast.
The cost of this program is ONLY $499 AND INCLUDES A ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP IN THE FMCPG - MUST BE PUCHASED BEFORE 12/31/26 **Cannabis News Florida will assign a writer for a telephone interview with the Physician and create the article to be published. Physician shall have the right to review and approve the article before publication for an additional cost of $100. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT CHARLES@CANNABISNEWSFLORIDA.COM OR CALL MY CELL AT 954-605-4785 |
We want to apologize for the inconvenience caused by the recent technical issues affecting our ability to provide the current news updates, announcements, press releases, and information you rely on from the Florida Cannabis community.
As a result of these website-related issues, some of the latest news and updates have been delayed from appearing as scheduled in the Cannabis News Florida E-Newsletter.
Once the issues have been resolved, we will work to ensure that delayed news and updates are posted and shared with our readership.
We sincerely appreciate your patience, support, and understanding as we work through this unexpected interruption. Sometimes even the best systems need a little medical attention!
Thank you for being a valued reader of Cannabis News Florida E-Newsletter. We look forward to bringing you the latest news and information from Florida’s Cannabis community again very soon.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. |
NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK
RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF MMTC'S
IN FLORIDA Click on Company Logo to be Transferred to Web Site
|
Curaleaf Continues Florida Expansion with Port Orange Dispensary Opening
New location brings the Company’s Florida footprint to 80 stores and 190 nationwide
STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 20, 2026 — Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) (“Curaleaf” or the “Company”), a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, today announced that Curaleaf Port Orange will begin welcoming patients on October 21, 2026. Located at 1760 Dunlawton Avenue, Unit 5, the new store brings the Company’s retail footprint to 80 locations in Florida and 190 nationwide.
Curaleaf Port Orange expands the Company’s presence in Volusia County, providing medical cannabis patients with another convenient location to shop. Located at 1760 Dunlawton Avenue, Unit 5, the store sits along a major commercial corridor connecting I-95 with the surrounding Port Orange community and coastal destinations, with convenient access to nearby residential neighborhoods, retailers and restaurants.
The store will offer a wide range of products, including Curaleaf’s Florida-exclusive Reef flower, Dark Heart ultra-premium flower, FIND flower, Anthem pre-rolls and the Select Briq 2 all-in-one vape, now featuring Select ACE oil. Team members will be available to answer questions and help patients explore the selection.
READ MORE
|
Curaleaf Challenges Aurora’s Unilateral Rejection of Its Enhanced Proposal
Oct. 19, 2026 — Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) (“Curaleaf” or the “Company”), a leading international provider of consumer and medical cannabis products, today responded to Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s (“Aurora”) Notice of Change to its directors’ circular, dated October 14, 2026, in which Aurora’s Board again recommended that shareholders reject Curaleaf’s enhanced proposal.
“Aurora’s Board has a fiduciary duty to shareholders, which requires it not to take illogical steps to keep the highest bidder out of the room. The Board has locked out Curaleaf while granting diligence access to unnamed parties and cites selective sources to support its agenda. None of that reflects a board acting in the company’s or shareholders’ best interests. Shareholders deserve the facts, and the facts favor engagement, not obstruction,” said Boris Jordan, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Curaleaf.
The real facts behind Aurora’s key claims:
MYTH: “Aurora’s process is designed to deliver the best outcome for shareholders.”
FACT: Aurora is giving others the keys while locking Curaleaf out of the building.
Curaleaf – the only bidder with a binding offer for Aurora and real money on the table – continues to be denied diligence access despite repeated outreach and requests. Meanwhile, Aurora’s Notice of Change discloses that it “has entered into confidentiality and standstill agreements with a number of parties who have been examining confidential financial, operating and other relevant information relating to Aurora.”
These are not the actions of a company that is serious about maximizing value for shareholders. Independent analysts agree. As Seaport Research Partners wrote on October 15: “We also question why ACB is willing to provide other potential buyers access to due diligence while refusing to engage with CURLF, particularly if its goal is to maximize shareholder value
READ MORE |
green Thumb Deepens Marion County Roots with Opening of RISE Dispensary Belleview, Its 26th Florida Location New RISE Dispensary Belleview expands access to medical cannabis for patients across Marion County, where Green Thumb has cultivated and produced cannabis products since 2018.
RISE Dispensary Belleview opens October 16 and will celebrate its grand opening event on Friday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Continuing with RISE’s new store opening tradition, a portion of profits from RISE Dispensary Belleview’s grand opening will benefit the local Belleview nonprofit Shepherd’s Lighthouse.
CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 16, 2026 — RISE Dispensaries, an industry-leading cannabis retail chain owned by Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb” or the “Company”) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), today announced that RISE Dispensary Belleview, located at 10907 & 10909 SE Hwy. 441, Belleview, FL 34420, will open on Friday, October 16. The new store builds on the Company’s longstanding investment in Marion County, home to its Ocala cultivation and production facility and its Ocala dispensary.
Situated along U.S. Highway 441 just south of Ocala, RISE Dispensary Belleview will offer medical cannabis patients best-in-class products and knowledgeable local team members who are trained to guide them through the retail experience. The opening also creates new jobs in Belleview, adding to Green Thumb’s workforce of more than 100 team members who call Marion County home.
READ MORE
|
INDIVA CANNABIS M&V Investment One LLC and its affiliates (collectively, “M&V”) and Royal Group Resources Ltd. (“RGR”). SEVEN LOCATION IN FLORIDA |
CURRENTLY OWED BY VIREO GROWTH INC. |
Vireo Growth Inc. to Acquire Planet 13 Holdings Inc. |
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS |
Cronos Completes Acquisition of CanAdelaar, Europe’s Largest Adult-Use Cannabis Company
Cronos acquires CanAdelaar for a base purchase price of €57.5 million plus cash earnout of 0.5x Normalized EBITDA1 in 2026 and 2027
Establishes Cronos’ European platform with #1 market share2 in the largest adult-use cannabis market in Europe3
Enables borderless product strategy, leveraging investments in genetics, R&D, and product development
TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2026 — Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) (“Cronos” or the “Company”), an innovative global cannabis company, today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of CanAdelaar B.V. (“CanAdelaar”), the largest cannabis company operating within the Netherlands’ adult-use cannabis pilot program, the Wietexperiment.
Under the terms of the definitive share sale and purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) announced on December 9, 2025, as amended, Cronos acquired all the outstanding shares of CanAdelaar for a base purchase price of €57.5 million, subject to closing and post-closing adjustments. In addition, contingent consideration is payable in cash in amounts equal to 0.5x CanAdelaar’s Normalized EBITDA in each of 2026 and 2027. The base purchase price represents approximately 1.4x CanAdelaar net revenue and 2.9x CanAdelaar Adjusted EBITDA based on 1H 2026 annualized results.4
“This is a milestone for Cronos,” said Mike Gorenstein, Chairman, President and CEO of Cronos. “With the completion of this transaction, we have established a meaningful and scalable platform in Europe’s largest adult-use cannabis market. CanAdelaar is the clear market leader in the Wietexperiment, with a proven operational track record, strong management team, and leading market share. We are excited to welcome the CanAdelaar team to Cronos and accelerate execution of our borderless product strategy in the Netherlands. With our preparations well underway, we look forward to bringing our innovative, borderless products to Dutch adult-use consumers.”
READ MORE
|
Optimi Health Completes MDMA Production for Phase 3 PTSD Trial in Canada, MAPS Trial in Israel and Commercial Supply in Australia
Batch sufficient to supply the proposed Canadian Phase 3 trial, a clinical trial in Israel in partnership with MAPS and a commercial export to treat PTSD in Australia
Batch sufficient to supply the proposed Canadian Phase 3 trial, a clinical trial in Israel in partnership with MAPS and a commercial export to treat PTSD in Australia
Health Canada-authorized trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of two sessions of MDMA-assisted therapy in up to 100 veterans and frontline workers
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 20, 2026 — Optimi Health Corp. (Nasdaq: OPTH, CSE: OPTI, FSE: 8BN) (“Optimi” or the “Company”), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical manufacturer of regulated psychedelic drug products, today announced the completion of its latest production batch of its MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) finished drug product. The capsules were manufactured at Optimi’s GMP facility in Princeton, British Columbia, under its Health Canada Drug Establishment Licence, and are expected to supply three programs: the recently announced proposed Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy in Canada (the “Proposed Phase 3 Trial”) for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), its next commercial export to Australia planned before the end of 2026, and a previously announced clinical trial in Israel in partnership with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (“MAPS”).
The Proposed Phase 3 Trial is intended to enroll up to 100 participants across multiple sites in Canada, focusing on veterans and current or former frontline workers. Participants are expected to receive the Company’s synthetic MDMA hydrochloride, supplied in two dosage formats, during two supervised sessions combining MDMA and psychotherapy spaced several weeks apart, with follow-up evaluations after the final session. The primary efficacy endpoint will be change in the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), which is the standard clinician-rated instrument for assessing PTSD severity. The Proposed Phase 3 Trial is expected to begin in 2027.
READ MORE |
HEMP LAW UPDATE: BEFORE CURRENT PROPOSAL
A massive federal hemp-THC ban is scheduled to take effect on November 12, 2026. Signed into law as part of the FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act, it redefines legal hemp to a 0.3% total THC limit (inclusive of THCA and delta-8) and caps final-form cannabinoid products at 0.4 mg of THC per container, rendering about 95% of current hemp-derived products federally unlawful. The situation remains highly fluid at both the federal and state levels: Federal Updates
The Ban Scope: The impending rules prohibit synthetic cannabinoids and those "synthesized or manufactured outside the plant," which directly impacts popular products like delta-8 THC, HHC, and most THCA flower.
White House Pushback: The White House has actively urged Congress to either delay the November 2026 implementation date or pass a fair regulatory framework to preserve access to full-spectrum CBD products.
Legislative Push: Various lawmakers, including Rep. Andy Barr, have pushed proposals to establish a legal regulatory pathway for domestic consumer hemp, though its fate remains undecided. State-Level & Local Enforcement
Texas Ban: Following a state Supreme Court ruling, Texas will start enforcing strict rules on July 31, 2026, effectively reclassifying and banning common consumer hemp derivatives (like delta-8 and THCP) from state shelves.
Missouri Lawsuit: Ahead of the November federal changes, Missouri enacted a state-level ban on intoxicating hemp products that is actively being challenged in federal court by hemp coalitions. Other States: States like New Jersey and Minnesota are actively passing legislation attempting to tightly integrate hemp products into their existing licensed, regulated cannabis frameworks. FLORIDA:
Florida's hemp market faces a massive collapse as the November 12, 2026, federal ban collides with intense local political maneuvering, strict state-level packaging rules, and a locked recreational cannabis market.
Because Florida's popular hemp-THC products currently average 1 to 10 milligrams of THC per container (such as those sold at mainstream retailers), the upcoming federal 0.4 mg cap is projected to eliminate nearly the entire state hemp sector. Political Battles and Veto History Past Governor Veto: Governor Ron DeSantis previously vetoed a strict state-level hemp ban, warning it would cause "dramatic disruption and harm" to small retail businesses.
Senate-House Deadlocks: During legislative sessions, lawmakers introduced bills like SB 438 to create 50 mg package caps. However, the House and Senate failed to agree on distribution rules, causing the state-level caps to die on the floor.
Federal Lobbying: Desperate to survive the impending November 2026 cliff, Florida hemp businesses are heavily lobbying Capitol Hill and pinning their remaining hopes on the Trump administration delaying the rule or amending the 0.4 mg cap. Both Florida Senators, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, originally voted in favor of the federal restrictions.
Current State Rules & Active Enforcement
Total THC Testing Rules: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) successfully defended its strict testing formula in court. Florida officially calculates compliance using Total THC (Delta-9 + 0.877 × THCA), rendering THCA flower highly restricted even before the federal ban hits.
Packaging Crackdown: State rules aggressively target and seize products featuring cartoon imagery or bright packaging. All items must utilize strict child-resistant locking mechanisms and include visible QR codes linking to official Certificates of Analysis (COAs).
Age Restrictions: Under active laws, you must be 21 or older to buy any ingestible or inhalable hemp extract. Newer 2026 legislation explicitly targets THC-infused beverages under the 21+ restriction.
The Broader Cannabis Landscape
The hemp industry's desperation is magnified by the status of traditional cannabis in the state. The Florida Supreme Court officially blocked the adult-use marijuana legalization initiative from the 2026 ballot due to a failure to meet signature verification rules. Because recreational cannabis remains completely dead for the 2026 cycle, hemp businesses cannot easily transition into state-licensed recreational dispensaries. Instead, the state's commercial market remains restricted to its tightly controlled, corporate medical marijuana registry.
|
Trump-Backed Hemp Bill Could Replace the Federal THC Ban With Actual Regulation
Posted in HEMP NEWS by Carlos Hermida
A new bipartisan bill would regulate and tax hemp-derived THC products instead of effectively banning most of them in November. For consumers, farmers and small businesses, that is a much better conversation to be having.
JULY 26, 2026 – Congress may have discovered a strange new idea: if adults are buying a popular product, perhaps the government should regulate it instead of banning almost all of it and acting surprised when an illegal market appears.
On July 22, 2026, Republican Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota introduced the Lawful Hemp Protection Act, also identified as H.R. 9830. The bill has support from the Trump administration and would create a federal regulatory system for consumable hemp products, including some hemp-derived THC products.
The proposal arrives just months before a major change in federal law is scheduled to take effect on November 12, 2026. Unless Congress acts, the new federal definition of hemp will impose a limit of just 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container and prohibit certain synthesized or non-naturally occurring cannabinoids. In practice, that could remove a huge portion of today’s hemp-derived cannabinoid products from the legal market.
The Lawful Hemp Protection Act would take a different approach: establish rules, require testing, restrict sales to adults, collect taxes and punish irresponsible operators.
In other words, regulate the industry like grown-ups.
READ MORE
|
BELOW ARE THE LINKS TO THE DIRECTORY OF FLORIDA CANNABIS DOCTORS AND DISPENSARIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA |
QUALIFIED PATIENTS
OVER 942,000
AND 782 DISPENSING LOCATIONS |
LATEST OMMU REPORTS FROM OFFICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA Highlights from
OCTOBER 16 2026 Report BY THE NUMBERS
Qualified Patients: (Active ID Card) OCT 16, 2026- 942,952 OCT 09, 2026- 942,370 OCT 02, 2026- 941,963
SEP 25,2026- 941,616 SEP 18, 2026- 941, 650
SEP 11,2026- 941,271
Patients Last Week: +582
Qualified Ordering Physicians: 2,038
New Doctors Last Week: +6
Reporting Period: OCT 9, 2026 - OCT 15, 2026
Amount of Medical Marijuana Dispensed - (mgs THC) 416,298,831
Amount of Low-THC Cannabis Dispensed - (mgs CBD) 910
Amount of Marijuana in a From for Smoking (oz) 149,377.953
Approved Dispensing Locations: 782 Added Last Week: 1 GTI Florida, LLC – Belleview |
UPCOMING MEETING AND CONFERENCES |
ADVERTISEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
If your goal is to get your business in front of the right people in the cannabis industry or you want to be an integral part of this new and exciting business opportunity, then you need to join with Cannabis News Florida as we help to establish cannabis as a major part of the economy in Florida. Cannabis News Florida is an online publication focusing on both local and national news from leading authorities about the medical and business developments in the medical cannabis industry covering the entire state of Florida.
Join the Cannabis News Florida force online and in print. We offer several marketing options to fit all budgets:
· MMTC PROMOS LISTED IN EACH E-NEWSLETTER
• Directory Listing
• Banner Ads
• Ad Space in the Newspaper
• Feature Articles
• Weekly Newsletters
For further information or to make your ad reservation, please call:561-368-6950 / 954-605-4785 cell charles@cannabisnewsflorida.com
|
|
|
|