St. Pete: Medical marijuana industry welcome

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - With state lawmakers passing new rules for how medical marijuana will be regulated – one city in the Bay Area is sending a strong message to potential growers and dispensaries.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s office says the city welcomes them with open arms.

After long debate – the state legislature passed regulations for the emerging $1 billion industry on its way to Florida.

Under the regulation, the total number of growers allowed in the state of Florida will be 17.  Each grower is allowed to have a max of 25 dispensaries. And four new growers would be added for every 100,000 patients.

St. Pete City Council and the mayor’s office are already having conversations about responsible regulation at the local level.

“We want to make sure our door is open and we work with them, but that we implement this the right way,” mayor’s office spokesman Ben Kirby told FOX 13 News.

St. Petersburg is a city which prides itself on being weird and unique - sending a strong message to a new industry sometimes viewed in the same way.