Florida’s approach to regulating medical cannabis sales is unconstitutional, according to a ruling made July 9 by the state’s appellate court.

Leon Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled that the statute — known as “vertical integration” —  requiring pot operators to grow, process and distribute cannabis and related products was unconstitutional, reports the Insurance Journal.

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The current “vertical integration” system caps the number of dispensaries across the state at 142 shops, despite the fact that Florida now has more than 240,000 people registered to legally use medical cannabis. The majority of dispensaries are operated by about a half-dozen medical marijuana treatment centers that grow their own cannabis crop to process and sell.

Dodson sided with the Tampa-based company Florigrown, which sued the state after being denied a license.

“The system in Florida was broken even before it got off the ground,” said Florigrown CEO Adam Elend. “It’s a big victory for us and a big victory for Florida … and the patients of Florida.”

In its ruling, the appellate court said the state’s vertically integrated system conflicts with the voter-approved amendment and the existing caps were “unreasonable.”

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Florida’ Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, the lone Democrat holding office in the state, said the ruling was “a victory for openness and the future of medical marijuana in Florida.”

“When 71 percent of Floridians voted for access to this life-changing medicine, they didn’t expect restrictive legislation that stood in the way of progress and open markets,” Fried added.

Oscar Pascual is the editor of Smell the Truth, syndicated on GreenState and SFGATE. Smell The Truth is one of the internet’s most popular destinations for cannabis-related news and culture. This blog is not written or edited by Hearst. The authors are solely responsible for the content.