Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJuly 23, 2018

Where the big banks say no, Justin Costello is saying ‘yes.’ Foreseeing “a multibillion-dollar industry here,” the head of Seattle-based GRN Funds says his firm has come to Florida to offer banking services to the state’s medical marijuana providers. It already handles about $500 million in deposits for clients in the cannabis industry on the […]

Jim RosicaJuly 19, 2018

The Legislature opened the state’s wallet again Thursday, granting a request from the state’s medical marijuana regulators for another $13 million in operating costs. The approval from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission didn’t come without some grousing, however. The Department of Health, under Gov. Rick Scott, regulates the drug through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). House Democratic […]

Jim RosicaJuly 16, 2018

A Destin lawyer has sued the Department of Health, saying a medical marijuana license preference for black farmers should include “Native American farmers and ranchers.” Donivon Craig Tingle filed suit in Okaloosa County Circuit Civil court last month. The suit was disclosed in a departmental “legal updates” email on Friday — the same day officials said they […]

Jim RosicaJuly 13, 2018

With the number of “qualified, active patients” surpassing 100,000, the Department of Health on Friday said it would finally start the process of issuing additional medical marijuana provider licenses. The four new “medical marijuana treatment center” (MMTC) licenses, however, will be issued “through a new rule,” the department added. That could mean a delay as the agency […]

Jim RosicaJuly 10, 2018

State regulators have given up for now on a contentious rule requiring a hefty fee from medical marijuana suppliers. The Department of Health, which regulates the drug through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use, had first proposed in April a “supplemental licensing fee” of $174,844 from each provider. But the office on Monday, without explanation, announced it was […]

Jim RosicaJuly 3, 2018

An appellate court delivered the equivalent of a judicial smackdown Tuesday following its decision last month to reinstate a delay on the effect of a lower court’s ruling that medical marijuana can be smoked in Florida. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal (DCA) issued a 5-page order calling Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ ruling to allow patients […]

Jim RosicaJune 25, 2018

They haven’t even been approved, but proposed rules on medical marijuana have already drawn legal challenges. Liberty Health Sciences, a licensed medicinal cannabis provider, is challenging two rules, both debuted only two weeks ago. One is on a “supplemental licensing fee” and another covers a “variance procedure” for medical marijuana treatment centers, or MMTCs, as […]

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2018

Florida now has topped 100,000 “active” and “qualified” patients in its medical marijuana use registry, the Department of Health announced in an email Friday. But again, according to a department spokesman, that doesn’t mean the department will issue another four licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, as provided under state law. The state had exceeded 100,000 overall almost […]

Jim RosicaJune 12, 2018

In an act of ‘humble plagiarism,’ Joe Redner‘s attorney is following the lead of John Morgan in asking the state Supreme Court to take over litigation on medical marijuana. In a filing posted Monday, attorney Luke Lirot “suggests” that the state’s highest court take over deciding whether Redner — the Tampa strip club mogul — can grow and juice […]

Jim RosicaJune 11, 2018

State medical marijuana regulators are slated to hold three rulemaking hearings Monday in Tallahassee. The Department of Health regulates the drug through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use. The first hearing, at 9 a.m., will cover a proposed rule on the “Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Supplemental Licensing Fee,” the “annual payment by a registered (provider) to cover […]

Tag: Office of Medical Marijuana Use

Saying ‘yes’ to marijuana money, new bank comes to Florida

Lawmakers grudgingly OK more money for marijuana regulators

Native American farmer suing state over marijuana licenses

State may soon get more medical marijuana providers

Medical marijuana regulators withdraw licensing fee rule

Appellate court calls out ‘abuse of discretion’ in medical marijuana case

Proposed medical marijuana rules already bringing challenges

State tops 100,000 marijuana patients — but no more providers

Joe Redner also wants Supreme Court to decide on medical marijuana

Regulators to convene on medical marijuana rules