A chain of gas stations selling marijuana in Florida

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(Hill) – International grocery chain Circle K will partner with marijuana company Green Thumb Industries to sell cannabis at gas stations in Florida next year.

Green Thumb, a national cannabis company that owns dispensaries that sell marijuana products under the name Rise Dispensaries, said the rollout will begin with 10 select locations in 2023 before potentially expanding in the future.

Through an exclusive deal, Green Thumb says it can technically lease space from Circle K in Florida, where the gas station chain owns 600 locations. Green Thumb’s in-store services will be called Rise Express.

“The opening of RISE Express stores at Circle K locations is a game changer,” said Green Thumb President and CEO Ben Kovler in a statement. “Convenience is a powerful channel in retail, and people want greater access to cannabis.”

According to Green Thumb, cannabis products sold at Circle K locations will include flowers, pre-rolls, gummies and vapes.

The cannabis is grown at the nearby Green Thumb plant in Ocala, Florida, which will be operational by the end of 2022.

Marijuana is legal for medical use in Florida. Across the US, about 37 states have legalized it for medical use, and another 19 states have legalized it for recreational use. Washington, DC has legalized the recreational and medical use of marijuana.

Five states legalized recreational marijuana this year: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Biden administration also grabbed headlines this month when it announced Pardons for all those federally convicted of simple possession of marijuana.

Marijuana use is rising among US adultswith 49 percent of all adults reporting having tried a product at least once in their lifetime in 2021.