The cannabis industry is often called one of the fastest-growing in the U.S. But for those of us working to build businesses, create jobs, and serve patients, the reality is that regulatory delays can bring growth to a standstill. And when progress stalls, it’s not just companies that lose — it’s communities, patients, and entire economies.
The Cost of Waiting
In Florida, the path to becoming a licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) is long, complex, and expensive. Applicants spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on application fees, legal teams, real estate, compliance consultants, and operational buildout — all before a single dollar of revenue comes in.
When licenses are delayed, denied, or tied up in litigation, those costs don’t go away. They accumulate. Businesses carry rent on properties they can’t use, debt on capital they’ve already spent, and payroll for teams waiting to work. Every month of delay is another month of compounding financial strain.
Beyond the Balance Sheet
But the economics of delays aren’t just about business owners. Patients lose too. When dispensaries are delayed, patients have fewer access points, longer drives, and less choice. Communities lose jobs that could have been filled, tax revenues that could have been collected, and community reinvestments that could have been made.
In short, delays hurt everyone — not just entrepreneurs.
Our Own Journey
At GŪD Essence, we’ve experienced these challenges firsthand. We’ve invested in cultivation plans, secured retail locations, and built out our team — all while waiting on state approvals. We’ve shouldered costs that don’t pause just because the process does. And we’ve watched communities eager for access, education, and jobs forced to wait right alongside us.
Still, we keep building. Through GŪD Supply and our GŪD Sun Grown line, we’ve pushed forward under the Farm Bill, creating revenue streams and brand presence while the MMTC process plays out. But not every applicant has that option — and many are forced to walk away after years of investment.
What Needs to Change
If cannabis is truly going to deliver on its promise, regulators must recognize that time is money — and lives. Delays don’t just hurt companies, they stall entire ecosystems. A better path forward would include:
- Transparent timelines for license awards and appeals.
- Interim access programs that allow applicants to operate in limited capacity while approvals finalize.
- Support for smaller and minority-owned applicants who don’t have endless capital to weather delays.
Building an Industry That Moves Forward
The economics of cannabis delays are unsustainable. They weaken businesses, limit access for patients, and slow community growth. The best version of this industry is one where licensing is efficient, transparent, and equitable — where companies can plan, patients can access, and communities can thrive.
At GŪD, we’re proof of both the challenge and the opportunity. Delays have tested us, but they’ve also pushed us to innovate, to build GŪD Supply, and to keep moving forward. We know what’s possible when the system works — and we’re committed to making that future a reality.
Because cannabis can’t afford to wait. And neither can we.
