As Florida prepares to vote on Amendment 3, which would allow recreational marijuana use, WPTV took a closer look at the state’s medical marijuana market. In a nondescript facility in rural Indiantown, Cresco Labs, a leading cannabis producer, showed off its cultivation process.
The facility, which is monitored by equipment to maintain precise conditions, is designed to ensure consistency and compliance with state regulations. The plants are cloned from a “mother” plant to maintain similar genetic traits, and each plant is individually tagged and tracked. This process helps prevent theft and allows officials to investigate any issues that may arise.
The plants are moved to different climate-controlled areas throughout their life to avoid contamination, and once harvested, samples are sent to an outside lab for testing. Finished products are also tested once packaged.
Cresco Labs’ director of cultivation, Matt Fauver, emphasized the importance of rigorous testing, stating that the process is more stringent than the pharmaceutical industry. Fauver, who is from California, believes that the legalization of recreational marijuana would not pose significant issues, as the black market growers would no longer be able to operate.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, however, opposes Amendment 3, citing concerns about safety hazards for children and the potential for public spaces to be filled with the smell of marijuana smoke. He argues that states that have already legalized recreational marijuana, such as Colorado and California, have not seen significant benefits.
If Amendment 3 passes, state lawmakers would have six months to put regulations in place before adult recreational use becomes legal. The amendment would automatically convert medical marijuana licenses to allow sales to adults over 21 without a prescription.
