Cannabis company inks deal with Circle K to bring weed to Florida gas stations

• Select Circle K locations in Florida will begin selling marijuana for medical use in 2023.
• The roll-out comes as part of a partnership with cannabis giant Green Thumb Industries.

Florida Circle K locations will soon be a one-stop shop for patrons who want to fill up their gas tanks, grab some snacks, and, starting next year, buy marijuana.

The Canadian convenience store is partnering with Chicago-based cannabis producer Green Thumb Industries Inc. to sell marijuana at 10 of its 600 locations in Florida.

Beginning in 2023, Green Thumb will set up its RISE Express dispensaries adjacent to the 10 Circle K locations where patrons can buy smokable cannabis flower, pre-rolled joints, vapes, and gummies, according to a news release.

Buyers of the cannabis-infused products will have to provide their medical marijuana card before purchasing. In Florida, citizens may receive a medical marijuana card for PTSD, cancer, and Parkinson's disease, among other conditions, Axios reports.

Although in most cases weed is only legally available for purchase at licensed dispensaries, other gas stations in the US have ventured into selling CBD and Delta-8 products. The former doesn't contain the psychoactive THC ingredient of cannabis while the latter contains a legal form of the ingredient, Bloomberg reports.

"The opening of RISE Express stores at Circle K locations is a game-changer. Convenience is a strong channel in retail, and people want more access to cannabis," Green Thumb CEO Ben Kovler, said in the release.

"This exclusive agreement with Circle K is a tremendous milestone for Green Thumb and the first example of premium cannabis retail being offered in one of the largest convenience store chains in the country," he said in a statement to Insider.

Although weed is still illegal at the federal level, recreational use of the drug is becoming more mainstream. In October, President Biden pardoned thousands of people with federal marijuana convictions. Legal cannabis sales are projected to hit $42 billion in 2026, according to data obtained by CNBC.

Florida's current laws around marijuana use only permit the drug for those who possess a medical marijuana card typically issued for chronic conditions. Over 700,000 Floridians are currently registered active cardholders in the state's medical marijuana program, according to the Florida Department of Health.

"The new RISE Express model is a huge step forward in making it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their everyday routine when stopping by their local convenience store," Kovler said.

Circle K did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.