Surterra, one of Florida’s biggest medical marijuana treatment centers, has been forced to stop processing the drug because it failed to meet a food safety inspection deadline.
The state’s Department of Health indicated that it was enforcing a provision in letters sent out July 6, that mandates medical marijuana treatment centers to complete third party inspections in the first year in order to insure “good manufacturing practices.”
Surterra, which operates in eight locations across Florida, had been one of the first businesses in the state allowed to dispense medical marijuana.
“Surterra will comply with all of the regulations set forth by the Department of Health in order to ensure that Floridians continue to receive the safest, most naturally derived treatments to enable health and well-being, as recommended by a doctor,” stated company spokeswoman Kim Hawkes.
Hawkes added, “We are going above and beyond simply ensuring good manufacturing practices and are pursuing American’s For Safe Access’ [ASA] Patient Focused Certification Program, which is a standard that is superior to what is currently required by Florida statute.”
