Growers Selected For Florida’s Medical Marijuana
November 24, 2015
Nearly a year behind schedule, Florida health officials on Monday selected five “dispensing organizations” to grow, process and distribute non-euphoric medical marijuana for a select group of sick patients.
But many in the industry believe that the biggest challenge in the drawn-out process is yet to come.
The five winners, who scored the highest of 28 applications, are Hackney Nursery in the Northwest region of the state; Chestnut Hill Tree Farm in the Northeast; Knox Nursery in the Central region; Alpha Foliage in the Southwest region; and Costa Nursery Farms in the Southeast region.
Hackney Nursery is located in Quincy.
Parents of children with severe epilepsy pushed for a 2014 law to legalize the purportedly non-euphoric marijuana — low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD — and contended that it can end or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures.
Sen. Rob Bradley, who was instrumental in passing the law, said he congratulated state Surgeon General John Armstrong early Monday morning. Applications for the licenses were due on July 8, and Bradley and other lawmakers had become frustrated that it was taking the Department of Health so long to pick the five dispensing organizations.
“I think now the attention should be focused on the industry to make sure that they cause no further delays and we move forward getting this product to these suffering families as quickly as possible,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said. “The department did its job. And now it’s time for the industry to step up. No further delays. Let’s move forward.”
But legal challenges over the awarding of the licenses are almost a given.
“It has always been anticipated that there will be challenges, and I’ve seen nothing in this process to persuade me that we will not see some of the winners challenged,” said Louis Rotundo, a lobbyist who represents the Florida Medical Cannabis Association and who also has a small ownership interest in at least one of the losing applicants.
Losers have 21 days to file challenges, but Patricia Nelson, a former director of the Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use who served on the three-member panel that graded the applications, said earlier this year that the challenges to the licenses will not hold up the process.
The winners of the licenses have 75 days to request “cultivation authorization” and, once that authorization has been granted, must begin dispensing the low-THC products within 210 days, meaning that the low-THC products could be on the shelves by next summer. The winners also have 10 business days to post $5 million performance bonds.
Meanwhile, losing applicants are trying to make sense of more than 600 pages of scorecards used to grade the applications by the panel comprised of Nelson; her successor, Christian Bax; and accountant Ellyn Hutson.
“I’ve got a number of calls from people trying to figure out how they got scored,” said Jeff Sharkey, a lobbyist who formed the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida and is affiliated with two nurseries that didn’t make the cut. “From that, people will make some decisions. Going back to growing tomatoes is option one. Option two is, some people have raised concerns about the perception of the nursery rulemaking committee and trying to figure out their scores and whether or not there are grounds for a protest. That’s kind of a normal review process for folks who’ve lost.”
Implementation of the law has been delayed due to legal challenges and an administrative law judge, who last year rejected the Department of Health’s first stab at a rule that would have used a lottery system to choose the license winners.
The department then held a rare “negotiated rulemaking workshop” — comprised of industry insiders, including Florida nurseries and marijuana experts from other states — to craft the regulations for the state’s marijuana industry.
Under the law passed last year and approved by Gov. Rick Scott, only nurseries that have been in business in Florida for at least 30 years and grow a minimum of 400,000 plants at the time they applied for a license were eligible to become one of the five dispensing organizations.
The nurseries teamed up with a variety of consultants, including out-of-state marijuana growers, in the hopes of edging out the competition.
Four of the five winners of the licenses — Chestnut Hill, Costa, Hackney and Knox — were represented on the rulemaking committee.
One of the most high-profile losers among the 28 applications was Loop’s Nursery, a Jacksonville grower that teamed up with the Stanley Brothers, a Colorado family that developed the “Charlotte’s Web” strain of cannabis whose name has become almost synonymous with low-THC, high-CBD medical marijuana.
Peyton Moseley, the husband of committee member Holley Moseley, is also part of Loop’s team. Holley Moseley heads up the “Realm of Caring Florida” non-profit organization also linked with the nursery. The Moseleys lobbied fiercely for the low-THC law on behalf of their daughter, RayAnn, last year.
Nearly all of the winners are represented by some of Tallahassee’s most influential lobbyists. Costa is represented by the Southern Strategy Group, while lobbyist Brian Ballard represents Hackney and Jorge Chamizo is the registered lobbyist for Knox Nurseries.
Alpha Foliage, owned by John and Carolyn DeMott, applied in two separate regions. The nursery has partnered with Surterra Florida, a limited liability corporation whose officers include two Atlanta investors also seeking to establish a footprint in Georgia’s nascent medical-marijuana industry. Alex Havenick, whose mother Barbara owns greyhound tracks in Naples and Miami, is also one of the officers of the Florida group. The nursery is also affiliated with Surterra Holdings, represented by lobbyists Ron Book and Billy Rubin.
Many of the applicants had applied for the low-THC licenses in the hope of expanding their businesses in the event that a constitutional amendment legalizing full-strength medical marijuana passed. That amendment narrowly failed last year, but a nearly identical measure is almost certain to go before voters next November.
Jim Allen Elementary’s Saturday Scholars Graduate
November 24, 2015
Fifty-eight students from Jim Allen Elementary School graduated from the Saturday Scholars Program in a ceremony held at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola chapel recently.
Center for Information Dominance (CID) Unit Corry Station continued a long tradition of partnering with the Escambia County school district to have volunteers spend Saturday mornings, mentoring students and exploring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts. The program has been in place for 31 years with a command from NAS Pensacola Corry Station supporting a session at a different school each spring and fall, with this fall marking the 61st session.
“The program’s great, the sailors enjoy it, and I think the best part about it is the elementary school kids,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Phillip Higgins, an instructor at CID Unit Corry Station and assistant coordinator for the Saturday Scholars Program. “They are just constantly smiling and constantly excited when we arrive. I hear they are all doing better at math and science, too.”
For four consecutive Saturdays, the children investigated stations side by side with their mentors around STEM topics such as the water cycle and building model bridges to foster critical-thinking and teamwork skills. They played math-based games in small groups in a math room, and a computer lab offered academic skills and basic computing games. An outside station allowed the students and mentors to play a sport, such as basketball and kickball. [Click here for an earlier NorthEscambia.com story.]
“The difference that we see in some students is remarkable, as they learn about not only the military and the world, as we have some students who have never even left Cantonment, but they also learn so much about how to interact with others and handle themselves socially,” said Rachel Watts, principal of Jim Allen Elementary School in Cantonment “Children who have this opportunity get transformed by the process, and the impact is long lasting.”
For the mentors, who were Navy “A” and “C” school students at CID Unit Corry Station, the experience was a new opportunity to reconnect with a younger generation and make a difference in a child’s life.
“I’ve never been involved in a volunteer program of this nature,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Apprentice Michael Alves. “Interaction with children is important, as you get so used to interacting with people your age on base and (are) constantly in a learning environment, you don’t really know what’s it’s like to be a kid, so it brings you back. It’s fun.”
For Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Apprentice Jordyn Calhoun, the time spent with her student helped her appreciate the opportunity to motivate or inspire others, particularly for students who have a lot going on in their lives.
“I’ve worked with one particular student, and he’s going through some personal issues, so it’s really nice to see that he opens up and that he has some sort of fun,” said Calhoun, during the fourth Saturday session. “When I first started, and he was just starting too, he did not seem very interested or into it. But now when I see him, he just looks so happy, and he really looks like he’s enjoying himself.”
Following the graduation, the students and their mentors spent time exploring the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, which many of the students had never visited.
“The other magical aspect of the program is seeing the Sailors grow and learn from our kids as well,” said Watts. “It’s just a great program for everyone involved, and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of it.”
Saturday Scholars is an example of the Navy Community Service’s Personal Excellence Partnership Program, which strives for excellence in developing the youth of surrounding communities by promoting academic achievement, healthy lifestyles and civic responsibility.
Have A ‘Fresh From Florida’ Thanksgiving (With Recipes)
November 24, 2015
Fresh From Florida recipes can be incorporated into holiday traditions. These recipes feature delicious products grown and harvested in Florida. Look for the products with the “Fresh From Florida” label at your local grocery store.
“For an authentic Florida Thanksgiving, enjoy Florida’s agricultural bounty and incorporate ‘Fresh From Florida’ products into your meal,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “This time of year, you can find cucumber, squash, tomatoes and many more products grown and harvested right here in Florida, just look for the ‘Fresh From Florida’ label when shopping.”
Stuffed Florida Zucchini and Yellow Squash Parmesan
Florida Snap Beans with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
Pan-Roasted Florida Vegetables
Florida Snap Bean and Sweet Pepper Sauté
Florida Squash and Tomato Gratin
From The Farm To The City: A Thanksgiving Bounty For The Needy (With Gallery)
November 24, 2015
About 200 students from schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked in fields near Jay Monday to harvest collards and bag sweet potatoes that will feed hundreds of needy families later this week for Thanksgiving.
The event at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center was part of Farm-City Week, bringing the bounty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm to the needy of the city.
The FFA students from Northview High School, Tate High School, Jay High School, Central School, Beulah Academy, West Florida High and Ernest Ward Middle School harvested hundreds of bundles each of collard and turnip greens and sorted over a ton of donated sweet potatoes.
The greens were harvested in assembly line fashion — one student picking the greens, another bundling them with a rubber band and passed student to student to a waiting transport vehicle. Then teams of students worked to wash the greens. The students also bagged freshly ground corn meal and grits.
Along the way, the students learned not only about teamwork, but also about the farming process at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm.
The greens, sweet potatoes and other food items will be delivered Tuesday with the help of more students to about 700 families that were pre-qualified based upon need at the Waterfront Rescue Mission in Pensacola and the Guy Thompson Community Center in Milton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nice Fall Weather Continues
November 24, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. East wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 10 mph.
Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Sonya Faye Howard
November 24, 2015
Mr. Sonya Faye Howard, 49, passed away on Friday, November 20, 2015, in Atmore.
Mrs. Howard was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mrs. Howard was of the Baptist faith. She is preceded in death by her mother, Bonnie Faye Rolin; uncle, Julius Raybon; and husband, Thomas Eugene Howard.
Survivors include her father, Hubert Rolin of Atmore; husband, David McGhee of Atmore; two sons, Dustin O’Neal Raybon of Atmore and Thomas “Little Thomas” Howard of Tibbie, AL; two step-sons, David Adam McGhee of Ft. Walton and Cameron Allen McGhee of Texas; two step-daughters, Brooke McGhee of Daphne and Anne-Lisa McGhee of Daphne; four brothers, Hubert Rolin, Jr. of Atmore, Keith Rolin of Bay Minette, Timmy Rolin of Atmore, Michael Rolin of Uriah, Adam Bailey of Daphne and Shane Bailey of Daphne; two sisters, Taffy Rolin of Atmore, Anita McGhee Tuel of South Carolina and Christy Bailey of Goodway, AL; and seven step-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Sardis Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Buzzy Rolin, Clint Lassiter, Bryan Couch, Mark Johnson, Little Randy Fretwell and Walter Lee Rolin.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adam Bailey, Rusty Bailey, Tinker Rolin, Radio Rolin, Hawkeye Godwin and John Calvin McGhee.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
John Arthur McGhee
November 24, 2015
John Arthur McGhee, 76 of Atmore, passed away Monday, November 23, 2015, in Atmore. He was a fabricator with Goodyear Tires and Rubber Factory. He was born in Atmore on June 21, 1939, to the late Doris and Lunia Mae Presley McGhee. He was a member of The Poarch Band of Creek Indians whom he cared deeply for, where he served on the Tribal Council for 22 years. He was known as the “Corn Man”, where he roasted corn for many years at the Pow Wow. He was employed at Best Western for over 20 years, and was an avid Alabama fan.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Cliffton McGhee; sisters, Francis Robbins and Hattie Mae McGhee.
He is survived by his wife, Bernice Tripp McGhee of Atmore; four daughters, Brenda (Michael) Johnson of Douglasville, GA, Sherry (Kenneth) Howell of Helena, GA, Kim (Jimmy) Dean, and Sheila McGhee all of Atmore; three sisters, Marie (Otha) Martin, Juliann Stacey and Maxine Johnson all of Atmore; eight grandchildren, Olviia, Jon, Robert, Miranda, James, Mason, Nicholas, Maggie and Sophia.
Services will be Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at 2 p.m. from the Poarch Community Church with Bro. Lamar Martin officiating.
Interment will follow in Judson Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be James Dean, Jon Robert Dean, Nathan Martin, Nicholas Howell and Mason Dean.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Dorothy B. Meacham
November 24, 2015
Dorothy B. Meacham of Pensacola, went to be with the Lord on November 24, 2015. She was born November 16, 1921, in Denver, Colorado to Jesse and Florence Bowles.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Clyde E. Meacham, (1994); and her sister, Mary Louise Norberg (2002).
She is survived by her three children, Ruth Meacham, Ralph (Vera) Meacham, and Marilyn (Bill) Brady; three granddaughters, Rebecca (Brent) Hale, Cyndi (Wayne) Burkett, and Karen (Carl) Lepard; and five great-grandchildren, Caleb and Kiersten Burkett, William Hale, and Todd and Katelynn Lepard.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Bro. Brian Donovan of Bible Baptist Church officiating the service.
Interment will follow in Cottage Hill Community Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. prior to services.
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of the arrangements.
Minor Injuries In Train, Pickup Collision At Quintette Crossing
November 23, 2015
A Cantonment man received minor injuries after a train-pickup collision in Cantonment Monday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 65-year old Roy Moore was westbound about 2:30 p.m. at a crossing on Quinette Road just east of Highway 95A. He told state troopers he failed to see the flashing red lights on the railroad crossing signal due to a glare from the sun. Moore drove his 2000 Ford F150 through the crossing arm and directly into the path of an upcoming train. The front of the pickup collided with the ride side of the front car of the train.
Moore was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Seeks Approval For Voluntary Solar Program With Yearly Fee
November 23, 2015
Gulf Power is seeking approval from state regulators for a pilot program that would involve customers voluntarily paying extra fees for solar-generated electricity rather than installing expensive rooftop solar panels.
The proposal, filed last week with the Florida Public Service Commission, would lead to customers paying $89 or $99 annual “subscription” fees to cover the costs of solar facilities. Customers would then receive credits of $2 to $2.50 per month on their electricity bills that would partially offset the fees. The credits would reflect that the use of solar energy would reduce the amount of electricity that Gulf would have to generate or buy elsewhere, according to the filing.
The local utility said it would need 2,880 subscriptions to cover the costs of the program. Once approved, the 1-megawatt community solar photovoltaic facility will be built near Milton, Florida.
“This is a customer opportunity to engage in solar participation,” the filing said. “The proposed program is strictly voluntary and is designed for Gulf Power customers who are either unable or do not desire to install solar generation systems on their residences or businesses. For many customers, ownership and operation of a solar generation system is either not feasible or is not desirable.”
The annual fee would be $99 but would be lowered to $89 for customers who agree to participate for five years.
“This is a limited program and we expect it to fill up fast,” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. “We’re excited to bring more renewables to Northwest Florida and give customers a new option to participate in solar without having to install a costly system on their roof.”
If approved, this is the fourth solar project Gulf Power has initiated in Northwest Florida. In April, the Florida Public Service Commission approved the construction of three large-scale solar energy farms. Partnering with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, the solar farms will be constructed at Eglin Air Force Base, NAS Whiting Field, and NAS Saufley Field. When complete, the facilities could produce enough energy to power approximately 18,000 homes for one year.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.