It was standing room only yesterday in the Orange room of the Sheraton Suites Westshore in Tampa, as veterans of the medical marijuana industry dispensed their sage wisdom to a sold-out crowd of pharmacists, farmers, would-be entrepreneurs, lawyers, and stoned dreamers. The Cannabis Career Institute (CCI) bills its events as "America's Premiere Cannabis Business Seminar" and is already scheduled to host four more classes around the state over the next month — at $299 a head.
"There's a great deal of interest in Florida," says Bob Calkin, president and founder of CCI (and a former member of Hollywood hair metal band Rude Awakening). Calkin utilizes trend forecasters like cannatrends.com to determine where to offer its classes and capitalize on the interest generated by Florida's Medical Marijuana Initiative.
Amendment 2, up for a vote this November, would legalize the cultivation, purchase, possession and use of marijuana to treat medical conditions. According to a recent poll by the University of North Florida, 74 percent of registered voters in Florida would support the amendment.
The passage of the amendment here in Florida would be a boon for business-minded marijuana lovers and venture capitalists. The $1.4 billion legal marijuana market is projected to grow to $10.2 billion over the next five years.
Calkin bases his traveling seminar on his more than 30 years of experience as a dealer in the LA rock scene and his development of a successful licensed medical marijuana delivery service.
"My service caters to senior citizens and celebrities," he told the crowd. "You form a trusting relationship and you're less likely to get robbed."
The seminar featured expert speakers on medicine, tax laws, legal loopholes, and how to "pay the man and play the game." Topics included how-tos on setting up business plans for medical marijuana dispensaries, grow operations, edibles, and delivery services.
Stay tuned to CLTampa next week for more about what could be Florida's newest industry.