10 marijuana businesses we'd like to see in Central Florida when Amendment 2 passes

In our cover story this week, we discussed the Cannabis University of Florida, which holds seminars around the state that cover the ins and outs of the marijuana business. Aside from the typical marijuana farms and dispensaries, how fun would it be if entrepreneurs could get creative about how they distribute their medicinal cannabis products when (if) Amendment 2 passes in November? Here are ten completely made-up business concepts we would love to see.

Scroll down to view images

Cannabis therapy can come in a wide variety of forms – edibles, oils, pills. What if it came disguised as a lip balm? Maybe an enterprising entrepreneur could come up with a delicious-smelling, effective line of cannabis lip butters and balms that deliver the goods when applied to the lips. If it were packaged appropriately, it would be a simple, discreet way to medicate as needed. And it would come with the perk of a mild buzz as well as lusciously moisturized lips.

Imagine the possibilities: You could start your own dispensary on wheels and serve up sweets (the standard marijuana-infused brownies and cookies, as well as more creative munchies) or savories (we're thinking gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches made with THC-infused butter, or french fries drizzled with cannabis-infused oil). If anyone steals this idea, we also have a couple of names at the ready: Baked Goods or Cannabus. You're welcome.

It can be hard to get traditional financing for even the most legit medical-marijuana businesses. That's because, even though some states have made medical marijuana legal, the federal government has not. So (although they say they won't violate the will of permissive states) the feds could still nail pot businesses (and their funders) for violating federal law. Sticky situation. So marijuana businesses often go to family or friends or non-traditional places to raise capital. The solution? Cannabis co-operatives, where funders pool their money and businesses can do their banking, that run much like a credit union.

Making cannabis-infused butter and oil can get pretty science-y, but when made properly, it can bring an interesting addition into your regular cooking. So someone needs to start a business and set up in the Lake Eola Farmer’s market with a stall full of marijuana-infused oil and butter, for sale to people who can legally buy such things. We’ve got three words for you: Cannabutter Garlic Bread.
via

Why just use the bud when we could be using the entire plant? Someone could be making a pretty penny by collecting the production leftovers from the farmers and refining them into something else. Hemp has traditionally been refined and used to make oil, waxes, resins, rope, cloths, paper and fuel, so why not its cousin, cannabis sativa? An ambitious businessperson could strike deals with the five growers who will be permitted to operate in the state and turn their trash into someone else's treasure.
via

Once you’ve graduated from cooking with cannabutter, you’re gonna wanna expand your culinary-weed horizons. We’d love to see a cookbook from a local chef filled with creative ways to cook with pot. It could give a whole new meaning to a delectable smoked brisket.

New business opportunities always mean opportunities for someone to create new technology that caters to them. Some companies, for instance, created dispensary-management software, but we’d love to see a Central Florida-based tech start up's spin on things. An app to find your nearest dispensary? An online database where medical-marijuana friendly physicians can be found? A device that measures the level of marijuana in your system so you can time your next dose accurately? The ideas are infinite.

Central Florida is ripe with talented artists who craft amazing works from found objects alike. We can only imagine the awesome high-end, fully functional artisan pipes that could be made by some of our favorites. Imagine a world in which you didn't hide your bong or bowl from company, but made it a living room conversation piece that all of your friends – not just the stoners – could appreciate.

Some people are just plain lazy, man. Add weed to the equation and the lazy-factor multiplies, like tribbles on Star Trek. That’s why it would be wise for an enterprising businessperson starting a dispensary to pre-roll some joints, pack ‘em up like cigarettes and make a killing selling them over-the-counter. We are envisioning long, philosophical debates about who rolls a tighter one – Cannabuzz on Goldenrod or MarijuanaRx on Mills.

There are already some fledgling social networks out there for medicinal marijuana users and growers. This is a huge, untapped market, though, which has the potential to explode as more and more states legalize the plant. On the network, growers can share talk about the trials and tribulations of growing in Florida’s sandy soil and fickle climate, and discuss the best practices for shipping and selling their product, or maybe just swap brownie recipes. Just like NextDoor.com and Patch.com, it would a hyper-local, getting-to-know-you digital resource for Central Floridians exploring life on the cannabis frontier.