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Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 5, 2017

A bill to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment is dead, after the House amended the bill to increases the cap on retail facilities twentyfold. The decision to send the bill back to the Senate kill the legislation (HB 1397), where senators were unwilling to increase the caps. Earlier in the day, Sen. Bill […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 4, 2017

With just days left in the 2017 Legislative Session, the Senate appears poised to take up and amend the House version of a bill to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The Senate placed the House bill (HB 1397) on Thursday’s Special Order calendar on Wednesday evening. The Senate proposal (SB 406) was on […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 2, 2017

The House overwhelming approved its version of a medical marijuana implementing bill, setting the bill up for final negotiations with the Senate later this week. The House voted 105-9 to approve a bill (HB 1397) that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. “Understanding the level of pain and the level of need patients […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 24, 2017

A House panel advanced an amended version of the lower chamber’s medical marijuana implementing bill, preparing the bill for a vote by the full House in the coming weeks. But with two weeks left until the scheduled end of the 2017 Legislative Session, the House and Senate continue to be at odds when it comes […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 18, 2017

A medical marijuana bill advanced through a key Senate panel Tuesday, picking up an amendment that would limit the number of retail locations allowed to dispense medical marijuana. The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee approved a bill (SB 406) by Sen. Rob Bradley to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The proposal, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 18, 2017

A House panel cleared the lower chamber’s medical marijuana implementing bill, despite continued concerns from advocates who said the measure doesn’t go far enough. The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill (HB 1397) by Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The proposal now heads to the Health & […]

Peter SchorschApril 5, 2017

The Senate, with the revised version of SB 406, appears to be on what is a fairly balanced means of implementing Amendment 2. Is that my opinion? Maybe. But, as of yesterday, even the intrepid Ben Pollara sent an email saying (and I quote), “The Senate bill puts Patients First…” while most parties in attendance […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2017

Advocates of Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana in Florida, have been expressing disdain for HB 1397, moving through the Legislature this Session, sponsored by Fort Myers Republican Ray Rodrigues. “Folks, this bill is bad,” wrote Ben Pollara, head of United for Care, the organization that campaigned for the constitutional amendment that passed with more than 71 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2017

A House panel approved legislation Tuesday that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment, despite concerns from some advocates the proposal doesn’t honor the spirit of the amendment. The House Health Quality Subcommittee voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill (HB 1397) that would implement the 2016 constitutional amendment. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Ray […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Because polling in 2016 showed less than half of all Floridians want to legalize marijuana outright, Ray Rodrigues believes he is doing the right thing by pushing regulations that ban people from smoking cannabis or using edible pot. “Here’s what we know,” the Fort Myers House Republican told former Congressman David Jolly on AM 820 WWBA Thursday […]

Tag: Ben Pollara
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Medical marijuana bill dead for 2017 Session

Rob Bradley files amendment to House medical marijuana bill to add retail caps, 10 new licenses by Oct. 1

House passes medical marijuana implementing bill, sends to Senate

House medical marijuana implementing bill headed to the floor

Senate panel OK’s amendment to limit number of retail locations allowed to dispense medical marijuana

House Appropriations Committee clears medical marijuana bill, despite concerns from advocates

Is the Senate on the right path on medical marijuana?

Unless legislation is changed, Joe Redner says he’ll sue over Legislature’s medical marijuana

House Health Quality Subcommittee approves medical marijuana implementing bill

Ray Rodrigues stance on medical marijuana angers Amendment 2 advocates