The System Isn’t Broken—It’s Working Exactly As Designed

Inside the Latest Episode of Suncoast NORML’s Podcast The Rotation By Suncoast NORML

The latest episode of The Rotation didn’t pull punches.

Set against the backdrop of the lead-up to 4/20—what the hosts jokingly call “the holiday season”—this episode quickly pivots from celebration to a hard truth about Florida’s cannabis industry:

There are currently zero minority-owned MMTCs (Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers) in Florida. 

And according to this week’s guest, that’s not an accident.

A System Designed to Exclude

Hosted by Gary Stein and Christopher Cano, the episode features a powerful and unfiltered conversation with Randy Rembert of Rembert Family Farms—a Black farmer navigating Florida’s cannabis licensing system from the inside.

What emerges is a picture of a system that claims to promote social equity but, in practice, does the opposite.

Rembert describes a process where:

• Licenses intended for historically disadvantaged farmers were awarded to elderly Pigford-class members—many in their 80s, 90s, or older

• Those individuals often lack the capital or operational ability to run cannabis businesses

• Outside investors step in, taking control and profits

• The actual farmers doing the work are left unpaid, undercut, or completely excluded

As Rembert bluntly puts it, the result is a system that “became nothing to do with medical marijuana and became everything to do with greed.”

From Social Equity to “Modern Sharecropping”

One of the most striking themes in the episode is the comparison to sharecropping.

Rembert details his own experience:

• Thousands of hours of unpaid labor

• Providing seeds, fertilizer, and operational work

• Being denied even 1% equity in the operation

• Facing internal disputes with license holders and investors

The hosts don’t mince words—calling it “one of the worst hustles since sharecropping.”

Rembert goes even further:

“It’s basically slavery… just with bigger numbers.”

The Illusion of Opportunity

A key takeaway from the discussion is what Cano describes as a “smoke and mirrors” system.

According to Rembert, the state presents opportunities—but constantly changes the rules:

• Applicants are told they qualify… then disqualified

• Requirements shift mid-process

• Licenses appear accessible… but are effectively pre-selected

His analogy is simple and devastating:

“They say you can come in with boots… then say boots aren’t allowed… then socks aren’t allowed… then strings aren’t allowed.”

The door is “open”—but no one can actually walk through it.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The data shared in the episode reinforces the problem:

• 22 licenses expected in the next round

• Only 2 minority participants among them

• Out of roughly 76 total applicants, only 3 minorities connected to licenses

That’s not equity. That’s tokenism.

Big Money, Bigger Influence

The episode also dives into the growing influence of:

• Multi-state operators (MSOs)

• Private equity firms

• Institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard

These are the same types of entities that:

• Fund private prisons

• Benefited from cannabis prohibition

• Are now profiting from legalization

As Cano puts it, that reality should “scare the hell out of” anyone who cares about justice in cannabis.

Declining Quality, Rising Profits

Another major concern raised is product quality.

The hosts argue that large-scale, profit-driven cannabis production leads to:

• Overuse of chemicals

• Moldy product being repurposed into concentrates

• Long shelf times (in some cases 9+ months)

• Lack of transparency for consumers

Meanwhile, small farmers—like Rembert—are producing cleaner, higher-quality cannabis but can’t access the market.

The Department of Agriculture Problem

The episode also criticizes the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for failing to support farmers.

Instead of connecting consumers with local agriculture, the hosts note:

• Limited or incomplete farm directories

• Lack of visibility for minority farmers

• Misaligned priorities

As Cano sarcastically points out, it’s easier to find recipes on the site than actual farms.

A Call to Action

Despite the frustration, the episode ends on a clear message:

Change is still possible—but only if people speak up.

Rembert emphasizes:

• Community action during legislative sessions

• Holding elected officials accountable

• Using collective voices to push reform

“There’s strength in numbers… If we stay silent, things will stay the same.”

Why This Episode Matters

This wasn’t just another podcast episode.

It was a reality check.

Florida’s cannabis industry is often framed as a success story—but this conversation exposes the cost of that success:

• Excluded communities

• Exploited farmers

• Consolidated power

• And a system that rewards capital over culture

If legalization is supposed to be about justice, equity, and opportunity—Florida still has a long way to go.

Final Thought

As Gary Stein put it, this fight has been ongoing since the very beginning:

“Minorities deserve to be a part of this industry… Let’s get this done right.”

The question is no longer whether the system is flawed.

The question is:

Who benefits from keeping it that way?