Each nursery that meets the requirements of Section 381.986(5)(b)1., F.S., desiring to be approved as a Dispensing Organization shall make application, either electronically or in hard copy, to the department using Form DH8006-OCU-2/2015, “”Application for Low-THC Cannabis Dispensing Organization Approval,”” herein incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05457. The completed application form must include the following:
    (1) An initial application fee of $60,063.00.
    (2) An explanation or written documentation, as applicable, showing how the Applicant meets the statutory criteria listed in Section 381.986(5)(b), F.S. In any explanation, the Applicant must address each item listed for each criterion below. The Applicant must disclose the name, position, and resume of the employee(s) who provides the knowledge or experience explained for each item.
    (a) The technical and technological ability to cultivate, process, and dispense low-THC cannabis. Please address the following items:
    1. Experience cultivating cannabis,
    2. Experience cultivating in Florida plants not native to Florida,
    3. Experience introducing new varieties of plants,
    4. Regional cultivation knowledge and experience,
    5. Experience cultivating plants for human consumption such as food or medicine products,
    6. Experience with in-house propagation,
    7. Experience with genetic modification or breeding,
    8. Experience using clean growing rooms,
    9. Knowledge of cannabis cultivation, including:
    a. Proper cultivation conditions and techniques,
    b. Additives that can be used when growing cannabis,
    c. Pests, disease and deficiencies common for cannabis,
    d. Production of high quality product in a short time,
    10. Experience with tracking each plant in a harvest,
    11. Experience with good agricultural practices,
    12. Experience with good handling practices,
    13. Experience with good manufacturing practices,
    14. Experience with analytical organic chemistry and micro-biology,
    15. Experience with analytical laboratory methods,
    16. Experience with analytical laboratory quality control, including maintaining a chain of custody,
    17. Knowledge of, and experience with, cannabis extraction techniques,
    18. Knowledge of cannabis routes of administration,
    19. Knowledge of, and experience with, producing cannabis products,
    20. Experience interacting with patients,
    21. Experience with handling confidential information,
    22. A marketing plan,
    23. Experience gathering and managing data, i.e. data on patient reactions to products dispensed,
    24. Experience with recalls,
    25. Training programs for employees addressing:
    a. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),
    b. Patient education,
    c. Compliance,
    d. Patient counseling; and,
    e. Data collection.
    26. Any awards, recognition or certifications received for relevant expertise.
    (b) Written documentation demonstrating that the applicant possesses a valid certificate of registration issued by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to Florida Statutes § 581.131, that is issued for the cultivation of more than 400,000 plants, is operated by a nurseryman as defined in Florida Statutes § 581.011, and has been operated as a registered nursery in this state for at least 30 continuous years.
    (c) The ability to secure the premises, resources, and personnel necessary to operate as a Dispensing Organization. Please address the following items, and include a sketch or other illustration:
    1. Location of all properties Applicant proposes to utilize to cultivate, process, and dispense low-THC cannabis and Derivative Product, including ownership information for the properties and any lease terms if applicable,
    a. For any property that is leased by the Applicant, include documentation that the property owner consents to the use of the property for the purposes of cultivation, processing, or dispensing of low-THC cannabis and Derivative Products and documentation that the mortgagor or lienholder has been given notice of the use of the property for the purposes of cultivation, processing, or dispensing of low-THC cannabis and Derivative Products.
    b. For any property owned by the Applicant but subject to a mortgage or lien, include documentation that the mortgagor or lienholder has been notified of the use of the property for the purposes of cultivation, processing, or dispensing of low-THC cannabis and Derivative Products.
    2. Compliance with local regulations regarding sanitation and waste disposal,
    3. The ability to obtain zoning approval,
    4. Sketch or other illustration approximating the property boundaries, land topography, vegetation, proposed and/or existing structures, easements, wells, and roadways for each property proposed,
    5. Description of the areas proposed for the cultivation of low-THC cannabis, including the following:
    a. Capacity, in square feet of growing area,
    b. Cultivation environment, e.g., greenhouse, clean room, aseptic, et cetera,
    c. Irrigation system(s); and,
    d. Environmental control system(s).
    6. A description of the ability or plan to expand any of the areas proposed for low-THC cannabis,
    7. Back-up systems for all cultivation and processing systems,
    8. A description of one or more strains of low-THC cannabis the applicant intends to cultivate,
    9. Access to water resources that allow for sufficient irrigation,
    10. Description of the areas proposed for the processing of Derivative Products, including the following:
    a. Extraction equipment and location,
    b. Concentration equipment and location,
    c. Access to sufficient potable water and hot water,
    d. Analytical equipment, including separators and detectors, and location,
    e. Safety equipment and facilities and location,
    f. Computer systems and software; and,
    g. Ventilation and exhaust system.
    11. Description of the methods proposed for the dispensing of Derivative Products, including the following:
    a. Accessibility of dispensing facilities, e.g., centrally located to several populated areas, located on a main roadway, not in a high crime area, et cetera,
    b. Proximity of dispensing facilities to patient populations; and,
    c. Alternative dispensing, e.g. delivery.
    12. A list of current and proposed staffing, including,
    a. Position, duties and responsibilities,
    b. Resume; and,
    c. Professional licensure disciplinary action in all jurisdictions.
    13. An organizational chart illustrating the supervisory structure of the proposed Dispensing Organization,
    14. Plans and procedures for loss of key personnel,
    15. Plans and procedures for complying with OSHA regulations for workplace safety; and,
    16. Relationship(s) with an independent laboratory(ies) with cannabis testing protocols and methods.
    (d) The ability to maintain accountability of all raw materials, finished products, and any byproducts to prevent diversion or unlawful access to or possession of these substances. Please address the following items for each property or location:
    1. Floor plan of each facility or proposed floor plans for proposed facilities, including the following:
    a. Locking options for each means of ingress and egress,
    b. Alarm systems,
    c. Video surveillance,
    d. Name and function of each room,
    e. Layout and dimensions of each room,
    2. Storage, including the following,
    a. Safes,
    b. Vaults,
    c. Climate control,
    3. Diversion and trafficking prevention procedures,
    4. A facility emergency management plan,
    5. System for tracking low-THC source plant material throughout cultivation, processing, and dispensing,
    6. Inventory control system for low-THC cannabis and Derivative Products,
    7. Policies and procedures for recordkeeping,
    8. Vehicle tracking systems,
    9. Vehicle security systems,
    10. Methods of screening and monitoring employees,
    11. Personnel qualifications and experience with chain of custody or other tracking mechanisms,
    12. Personnel reserved solely for inventory control purposes,
    13. Personnel reserved solely for security purposes,
    14. Waste disposal plan,
    15. Plans for the recall of any Derivative Products that have a reasonable probability of causing adverse health consequences based on a testing result, bad patient reaction, or other reason; and,
    16. Access to specialized resources or expertise regarding data collection, security, and tracking.
    (e) An infrastructure reasonably located to dispense low-THC cannabis to registered patients statewide or regionally as determined by the department. Please address the following items:
    1. A map showing the location of the applicant’s proposed dispensing facilities,
    2. A sketch or other illustration of the actual or proposed dispensing location showing streets; property lines; buildings; parking areas; outdoor areas, if applicable; fences; security features; fire hydrants, if applicable; and access to water and sanitation systems; and,
    3. A floor plan of the actual or proposed building or buildings where dispensing activities will occur showing:
    a. Areas designed to protect patient privacy,
    b. Areas designed for retail sales,
    4. A HIPAA compliant computer network utilized by all facilities,
    5. Vehicles that will be used to transport product among cultivating, processing, and dispensing facilities,
    6. Communication systems,
    7. Hours of operation of each dispensing facility; and,
    8. Methods of mitigating odors if applicable.
    (f) The financial ability to maintain operations for the duration of the 2-year approval cycle, including the provision of Certified Financials to the department. Please provide the following items:
    1. Certified Financials issued within the immediately preceding 12 months,
    2. Applicant’s corporate structure,
    3. All owners of the Applicant,
    4. All individuals and entities that can exercise control of the Applicant,
    5. All individuals and entities that share in the profits and losses of the Applicant,
    6. All subsidiaries of the Applicant,
    7. Any other individuals or entities for which the Applicant is financially responsible,
    8. Assets of the Applicant and Applicant’s subsidiaries,
    9. Liabilities of the Applicant and Applicant’s subsidiaries,
    10. Any pending lawsuits to which the Applicant is a party,
    11. Any lawsuits within the past 7 years to which the Applicant was a party,
    12. All financial obligations of Applicant that are not listed as a “”liability”” in the Certified Financials,
    13. A projected two year budget; and,
    14. Specific reference to sufficient assets available to support the Dispensing Organization activities.
    (g) That all owners and managers have been fingerprinted and have successfully passed a level 2 background screening pursuant to Florida Statutes § 435.04, within the calendar year prior to application. Each owner and manager should present to FDLE or one of its approved vendors for fingerprinting. At that time, give the entity ORI number FL924890Z (DOH – OFFICE OF COMPASSIONATE USE). The report will be sent directly to the Office of Compassionate Use. Please submit a list of all owners and managers indicating the date of each individual’s most recent Level-2 background screening.
    (h) The employment of a medical director who is a physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 458 or 459, F.S., to supervise the activities of the proposed Dispensing Organization. Please address the following items for the physician chosen as medical director:
    1. Specialty area, if any,
    2. Experience with epileptic patients,
    3. Experience with cancer patients,
    4. Experience with patients with severe seizures or muscle spasms,
    5. Knowledge of the use of low-THC cannabis for treatment of cancer or physical medical conditions that chronically produce symptoms of seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms,
    6. Knowledge of good manufacturing practices,
    7. Knowledge of analytical and organic chemistry,
    8. Knowledge of analytical laboratory methods,
    9. Knowledge of analytical laboratory quality control, including maintaining a chain of custody,
    10. Knowledge of, and experience with, CBD/low-THC extraction techniques,
    11. Knowledge of CBD/low-THC routes of administration,
    12. Experience in or knowledge of clinical trials or observational studies,
    13. Knowledge of, and experience with, producing CBD/low-THC products,
    14. Experience with or knowledge of botanical medicines,
    15. Experience with dispensing medications,
    16. Description of how the medical director will supervise the activities of the Dispensing Organization; and,
    17. Description of how the Dispensing Organization will ensure it has a medical director at all times.
    (i) The ability to post a $5 million performance bond for the biennial approval cycle.
    (3) If the Applicant intends to claim any exemption from public records disclosure under Florida Statutes § 119.07, or any other exemption from public records disclosure provided by law for any part of its application, it shall indicate on the application the specific sections for which it claims an exemption and the statutory basis for the exemption. The Applicant shall submit a redacted copy of the application redacting those items identified as exempt.
    (4) Failure to submit the $60,063.00 application fee or documentation sufficient to establish the Applicant meets the requirements of Section 381.986(5)(b), F.S., shall result in the application being denied prior to any scoring as contemplated in subsection (5), of this rule.
    (5) Any “”Application for Low-THC Cannabis Dispensing Organization Approval”” and all required exhibits and supporting documents shall be delivered to the Agency Clerk of the Department of Health physically located at 2585 Merchants Row Boulevard in Tallahassee, Florida, no earlier than 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), on the effective date of this rule and no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), 21 calendar days after the effective date of this rule.
    (a) The department will substantively review, evaluate, and score applications using Form DH8007-OCU-2/2015, “”Scorecard for Low-THC Cannabis Dispensing Organization Selection”” herein incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05461. The department’s substantive review will be completed by:
    1. Director of the Office of Compassionate Use,
    2. A member of the Drug Policy Advisory Council appointed by the State Surgeon General; and,
    3. A Certified Public Accountant appointed by the State Surgeon General.
    (b) Each reviewer will independently review each application and score using Form DH8007-OCU-2/2015, “”Scorecard for Low-THC Cannabis Dispensing Organization Selection.”” Scorecards from each reviewer will be combined to generate an aggregate score for each application. The Applicant with the highest aggregate score in each dispensing region shall be selected as the region’s Dispensing Organization.
    (c) In the event of a tie in a region, each reviewer will re-review the tied applications and select a winning application. The department will approve the application selected by the majority of the reviewers.
    (d) In the event one nursery receives the high score in multiple regions, one of which is the region represented by the address on the nursery’s certificate of registration, the Applicant will be approved for that region, and the second highest scored Applicant will be approved for the other region(s). In the event one nursery receives the high score in multiple regions, none of which is the region represented by the address on the nursery’s certificate of registration, the Applicant will be approved for the region for which it had the highest aggregate infrastructure score, and the second highest scored Applicant will be approved for the other region(s).
    (e) Upon notification that it has been approved as a region’s Dispensing Organization, the Applicant shall have 10 business days to post a $5 million performance bond. The bond shall:
    1. Be payable to the department in the event the Dispensing Organization’s approval is revoked.
    2. Be written by a surety company licensed by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
    3. Be written so that the nursery name on the bond corresponds exactly with the Applicant name.
    4. If a bond is canceled and the Dispensing Organization fails to file a new bond with the department in the required amount on or before the effective date of cancellation, the Dispensing Organization’s approval shall be revoked.
    (f) If the selected Applicant fails to post the bond within the required timeframe, the Applicant with the next highest score in the dispensing region shall be selected and notified.
    (g) The surety company can use any form it prefers for the performance bond as long as it complies with this rule. For convenience, the surety company can also use Form DH8008-OCU-2/2015, “”Florida Low-THC Cannabis Performance Bond”” herein incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05460.
Rulemaking Authority 381.986(5)(d) FS. Law Implemented 381.986(5)(b) FS. History-New 6-17-15.