At least some of the losing applicants are expected to challenge the health agency’s decisions and lead to further delays.

In Florida, 28 companies control the medical marijuana market. For years, the marketplace has been dominated and controlled at all levels by a tight cluster of companies — only about two thirds of Florida’s licensed companies have storefronts — that stand to make enormous profits off of Florida’s near 1 million medical marijuana patients.

Florida is finally awarding 22 highly sought-after medical marijuana licenses nearly 18 months after the applications were submitted and reviewed by state authorities. The state’s medical marijuana industry is tightly regulated and only those with a license can cultivate,