The brother of State Rep. Halsey Beshears and an associate of former Congressman David Rivera belong to groups seeking a state health department license to grow medical marijuana in Northwest Florida.
In the region, which covers Tallahassee to Pensacola, politically connected individuals, high-powered lobbyists and millionaire entrepreneurs are vying for the license, putting them on the ground floor of an industry analysts say has the potential to generate more than $780 million in annual revenue — if the state were to fully legalize medicinal marijuana.
The roster of individuals involved in the four applications for the Panhandle license include notables such as Tallahassee attorney Daryl Parks, of the nationally known firm, Parks & Crump; former Florida State University medical school chair Dr. Ken Brummel-Smith, former Rep. Baxter Troutman, along with lobbyists Ron Book, Brian Ballard and William Rubin. Beshears said he is no longer associated with the family nursery, having quit the business in 2013 after being elected to the Florida House.
The Florida Department of Health has said it expects to award the five licenses authorized by a 2014 law this fall, which ends Dec. 20. If everything goes right, medical marijuana products will be available in Florida next spring.
