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High Hopes Hit a Legal Speed Bump: Florida Cannabis Company’s Fight to Pair Weed with Polar Pops

In the latest chapter of “What If You Could Buy Weed and a Slurpee in One Stop?”, Green Thumb Industries (GTI) isn’t giving up on its dream of pairing cannabis with convenience stores across Florida.

After an administrative law judge sided with state health regulators and nixed their plan, GTI has taken its fight to the next level, filing an appeal with the 1st District Court of Appeals.

The Pitch: Gas, Grass, and Gummy Bears

GTI, the company behind Rise dispensaries in Florida, wants to bring cannabis products to locations adjacent to Circle K convenience stores.

The idea? A convenient way for customers to pick up both cannabis and a snack for those inevitable munchies.

It’s a vision of synergy so perfect it’s practically poetic—except Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) isn’t feeling the vibe.

The Legal Drama Unfolds

The trouble started when OMMU’s director denied GTI’s requests to open dispensaries near Circle K locations in St. Petersburg, Orlando, and Ocala, citing noncompliance with state law.

GTI fired back, accusing the director of applying “unadopted rules” and pointing out that other cannabis companies had received approval for similar setups near convenience stores.

But in January, Administrative Law Judge Joshua Pratt ruled in favor of OMMU, stating that the decisions were made “on a case-by-case basis.”

Translation: No two gas-station-adjacent dispensaries are the same, and this particular plan didn’t make the cut.

Appealing for Convenience (and Cannabis)

Refusing to let their vision go up in smoke, GTI filed an appeal to keep the dream alive. While the notice didn’t include juicy details, it’s clear GTI isn’t backing down…...After all, their initial announcement in October 2022 had already caused national headlines and sent ripples through Florida’s cannabis regulators.

The Crime Concern Conundrum

One of the state’s concerns? The potential for increased crime if cannabis dispensaries were located next to convenience stores.

GTI’s counterargument: Cannabis and Circle K can coexist peacefully, just like peanut butter and jelly—or at least gas pumps and lottery tickets.

A separate case focused on an Ocala location—where the dispensary would have its own building next to a Circle K—challenges this position further.

GTI argues that fears of increased crime are overblown and that cannabis users are more likely to grab a bag of chips than a crowbar.

What’s Next for Gas Station Ganja?

As GTI takes its case to the Court of Appeal, the future of cannabis-adjacent convenience stores in Florida hangs in the balance.

Will Floridians one day be able to fill up their tanks, grab a Big Gulp, and pick up some pre-rolls in one stop? Or will state regulators continue to keep cannabis and Circle K in separate corners?

Final Thoughts: Puff, Puff, Pass (Through the Legal System)

While the idea of cannabis and convenience stores might make perfect sense to consumers, Florida’s legal system isn’t as easily convinced.

For now, GTI’s battle continues, and we’re left wondering: If we can’t get weed next to our snacks, is this truly the Sunshine State we signed up for?

Stay tuned—because this fight is far from over, and you don’t want to miss the next twist.

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