Today, in response to the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling that upholds the “vertically integrated” nature of the state’s medical marijuana industry, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement:

“This ruling by our Republican-dominated Supreme Court further entrenches Florida's unfair, unconstitutional medical marijuana system put in place by our Republican-dominated Legislature. This status quo helps absolutely no one except the 22 medical marijuana companies in Florida at the expense of patients. Unlike hemp's open, horizontal market in Florida that provides opportunity to everyone, Florida's medical marijuana industry will remain closed-off, restricting freedom of opportunity, weakening the free market, and leading to ever-higher prices for patients. If we're applying the law to medical marijuana, then it's past time to grant the licenses that Black farmers and our citrus industry deserve and the law requires.”