Marbet Lewis Quoted in Daily Business Review Article “Recession, Technological Change Top of Mind in Law Firm Leader Outlook.”

November 12, 2019

FLORIDA – November 12, 2019, Spiritus Law Founding partner and alcohol attorney Marbet Lewis, was quoted in the DBR’s Article “Recession, Technological Change Top of Mind in Law Firm Leader Outlook,” which discusses a potential recession worrying some business leaders in the US, and how the Sunshine State is being affected.

According to the heads of some of Florida’s largest law firm’s business is still good.  The presidents, CEOs and managing partners of Florida’s most established and sprawling law firms offered their insights to the Daily Business Review on what is top of mind as 2019 winds down and 2020 approaches.

Marbet provides insight into the fledgling marijuana industry in Florida.

Lucrative and scarce marijuana licenses go for as much as $95 million and the demand from some 280,000 qualified patients is leading to a shortage.

Most of the legal work in Florida’s medical marijuana space stems from lobbying, government relations, and litigation, said Spiritus Law partner and alcohol attorney Marbet Lewis.

Since medical marijuana’s legalization by constitutional amendment in 2016, regulations and statutes have been in flux as the state struggles with the implementation of the ballot language.

Smokable medical marijuana only became available in March after the Florida Legislature repealed a ban on flower products, and the Florida Supreme Court may take up a question over the requirement that licensed operators be vertically integrated, meaning that operators must grow, process and distribute the cannabis. Critics argue that this sort of system limits investment in the industry.

Regardless of the challenges, Lewis sees the marijuana boom as a question of when, not if. Two separate ballot initiatives that could come up for a vote in 2020 seek to make recreational marijuana legal. Should that happen, business will explode, she added.

Established companies will look to acquire Florida growing operations and distributors, giving rise to opportunities for transactional attorneys. Medical professionals such as doctors and dentists who are already experimenting with nonpsychoactive CBD will seek counsel to help bring marijuana products to market. And alcohol companies have already expressed interest in integrating with the cannabis market.

“In Florida, we’re at the base right now,” Lewis said. “And there’s nowhere to go but up.”

Read the full article (subscription required).

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About Spiritus Law:

Spiritus Law is an entrepreneurial regulatory and business law firm focused on the representation of highly regulated industries by offering legal services in the areas of alcohol and tobacco law, federal, state and local regulatory and business licensing, hospitality law and licensing, commercial and residential real estate development, land use and zoning, real estate transactions, government relations, banking and lending, general commercial retail including the retail sale of regulated products and public/private partnership transactions. The Firm is founded on traditional principles of client counseling and teamwork with a cutting-edge twist on regulatory innovation and modern problem-solving. Spiritus Law combines a unique blend of professionals, including attorneys, government consultants, licensing assistants and paralegals to assist its diverse clients. Our modern approach to transparent client representation and employee engagement defines our collaborative spirit and progressive energy.

Core Services:

Primary service areas include: Alcohol Licensing & Regulatory Compliance, Retail & Hospitality Licensing & Permitting, Real Estate Transactions & Commercial Development, Firearms & Security Compliance, Public/Private Infrastructure &Development, Tobacco Product Regulatory Compliance, and Business Transactions & Financial Services. Our firm services an array of highly regulated industries, including alcohol producers, sports teams, hotels, restaurants, theme parks, movie theaters, grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, residential and commercial real estate developers, state agencies, municipal governments, investment firms and individual investors, lending institutions, security service providers, firearms suppliers and more.