The Director of Medical Marijuana Use, who is now the Director of the Office of Medical Marijuana Use at Floria Department of Law Enforcement has worked there for over 17 years.
Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix
Christopher Kimball, Florida’s leading marijuana regulator for almost three years has now stepped down. He is now the deputy general counsel at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
Kimball’s Linked In profile says he left the Office of Medical Marijuana Use at the Florida Department of Health in July. Bobbie Smith posted to her Linked In profile announcing she was the new director. Smith was employed by the Floria Department of Law Enforcement (now the OMMU) for 17 years, focusing her work on legislative matters.
Florida’s medical cannabis industry is highly regulated. Only those who have a license are allowed to cultivate, process and sell marijuana. As of August 1, the latest statistics show that 920 582 patients were registered and qualified for medical marijuana treatments.
2381 doctors were qualified to prescribe medical marijuana for patients.
Kimball’s departure comes as the state prepares to defend its November 2024 decision to award 22 new medical marijuana licenses. Vendors who were denied licenses have filed more than twenty separate complaints with the Division of Administrative Hearings of the State.
The challenges have been consolidated and a three-month hearing on the dispute is scheduled to begin in October.
Paula Savchenko, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer, told The Florida Phoenix on Wednesday that a new license could be awarded in another year due to the complex challenges and large number of people involved.
Florida has announced 22 new licenses, just weeks after the failed attempt to pass a constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana. DeSantis aggressively campaigned against the proposed amendment.
The Hope Florida Foundation, an organization tied to a project launched by the First Lady Casey DeSantis, funneled $8.5M to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee formed to oppose Amendment 3
James Uthmeier – the current Attorney General and former Chief of Staff to the Governor – chaired the committee.
Florida Phoenix published this article first.