Marijuana 101

PANAMA CITY BEACH — “Synergy” isn’t a word that often comes up when the peace-pipe is being passed around. But that was the focus of a medicinal marijuana seminar Saturday.

The sound of steel drums of reggae music coming from the overhead speakers in Edgewater Beach Resort’s conference room was only a coincidence. Those who showed up for Cannabis Career Institute’s (CCI) first seminar on the numerous business opportunities in the field of medicinal marijuana were lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs and investors — serious people — looking to get an introductory course into the “canna-biz.”

“This is Business 101, plus cannabis,” said Robert Calkin, founder of CCI and a former instructor at the California pot college Oaksterdam University. “Once you can do this legally, they still need to know how to start the business, market it and succeed. It’s the nuts and bolts of the cannabis business.”

The course doesn’t come cheap at $299 per person, but in an industry expected to generate billions of dollars and countless jobs, the knowledge and networking opportunities are invaluable.

Medical marijuana still is illegal in Florida. However, public opinion polls suggest about 88 percent of Floridians will support a proposal on November’s ballot to allow medical marijuana.

As expected, master pot growers, lawyers and experts in setting up marijuana dispensaries speak at CCI’s seminars. But the organization also has speakers who discuss chances for businesses that are less obvious, such as delivery services, marijuana restaurants or cafés and “bud clippers.”

Doug Porter, CCI’s organizer, speaks to people about real estate opportunities that have arisen with greenhouses and thousands of other commercial properties left vacant in Central Florida by the housing market crash in 2008.

Several of those properties, left dormant and draining tax dollars from their owners, could be used as dispensaries, delivery hubs or grow houses.

“All walks of life, everyone can find their niche in this market,” Porter said. “Our goal is not to help people start illegal businesses. Our motto is that people be self-reliant and compliant.”

Twenty-two states have voted to allow the use and sale of medical marijuana. Many Floridians are putting pieces in place to start businesses the day the state law takes effect.

A bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to defund DEA intervention in states that allow recreational or medical marijuana already anticipates Florida to pass the law.

One issue that has come to the forefront with November’s vote is how many licenses will be allowed for state-sanctioned growers. Current language stipulates only five licenses will be available for the entire state, which basically would exclude small businesses.

“I don’t get discouraged, because once those five start to see they can’t fill the supply, demand will dictate more licenses,” Calkin said. “They’ll find out.”

CCI has not scheduled a date for a second seminar in Panama City Beach, but Calkin said they could cycle back around in about six weeks.