Ganja could soon be coming to a Florida gas station near you — in a new initiative to bring the hotly-debated psychoactive flower buds to a larger audience.
No, Florida has not fully legalized Mary Jane and it remains illegal on the federal level. However, Green Thumb Industries Inc., a U.S. cannabis producer, is partnering with Circle K gas stations to start selling licensed marijuana products to registered cardholders in 2023.
Only 10 of Circle K’s 600 gas stations in Florida will see new dispensaries, called “RISE Express,” adjacent to the stores. The dispensary will offer several licensed products including flower, pre-rolls, gummies and vapes.
“The opening of RISE Express stores at Circle K locations is a game-changer. Convenience is a strong channel in retail, and people want more access to cannabis,” said Ben Kovler, who is Green Thumb’s founder, chairman and CEO, in a statement. “The new RISE Express model is a huge step forward in making it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their everyday routine when stopping by their local convenience store.”
Prior to this deal, legal herb has been primarily sold in independent dispensaries in the U.S. and only for medical use in Florida. This offers a new way for active medical pot cardholders to buy cannabis products in the state, which is about 700,000 people.
It is unclear specifically where these new type of dispensary will launch in Florida, or when. However, by the end of this year, Green Thumb Industries will open a new Ocala cultivation facility that will supply the dispensaries across the state.
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