Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, an early champion of medicinal cannabis in the Sunshine State, came out strong after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday rescinded the federal policy on medical marijuana.
“This is what happens when a do-nothing Congress hands major policy decisions to unelected bureaucrats in order to avoid confronting difficult issues,” Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican, tweeted Thursday.
Selling marijuana is still a federal crime, but the Obama administration had given guidance to federal prosecutors to not charge those, particularly “the seriously ill and their caregivers,” who distribute and use medical marijuana under a state law.
The AP reported: “Instead of the previous lenient federal-enforcement policy, Sessions’ new stance will instead let federal prosecutors where marijuana is legal decide how aggressively to enforce longstanding federal law prohibiting it.”
Bradley also tweeted, “Fix the pot law, Congress! Leave alone states with medical marijuana and take marijuana out of Schedule 1,” referring to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s classification system. That schedule is for “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” including heroin, LSD and peyote.
He added in a follow-up tweet, “Florida has designed a medical marijuana system that is safe and secure and holds specific entities accountable for bad behavior. It’s not the Wild West, like California,” where a new legalization law allowing recreational use went into effect Jan. 1.
“If federal authorities are now scrutinizing states, Florida will be the model,” Bradley said.
Evening Reads
“Trump administration plans to allow expanded drilling off U.S. continental waters” via Darryl Fears of the Washington Post
“As Trump moves to open waters to drilling, Florida lawmakers vow to protect coast” via Skyler Swisher of the Sun-Sentinel
“Audubon happy Rick Scott opposes drilling, releases Session priorities” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics
“Ron DeSantis ‘surprised’ by Donald Trump’s new feud with Steve Bannon” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida
“What Rick Scott’s legacy as governor will look like” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
“Governor’s office seeks $1,200 to respond to Gwen Graham’s Hollywood Hills query” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Jeremy Ring snags a pile of endorsements from state lawmakers” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
“What’s the Tallahassee landscape after the ouster of Jack Latvala” via Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida farmers brace for cold weather” via The News Service of Florida
“Those iguanas falling from trees in Florida? They probably aren’t dead” via Patricia Mazzei of the New York Times
Quote of the Day
“As a fan of the president’s, I hope that [Massachusetts senator and liberal icon] Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic nominee. That would be a dream come true for us.” — Brian Ballard, longtime Florida lobbyist and top fundraiser for President Donald Trump, as quoted in a McClatchyDC.com story.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
Republican political operative and pundit Roger Stone is slated to speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. That’s at 11:45 a.m., Country Club of Orlando, 1601 Country Club Dr., Orlando.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will speak to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. That’s at noon, Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.
The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine is scheduled to hold a conference call. That’s at 1 p.m. The call-in number is (888) 670-3525 and the participant code is 7342425515.
The Republican Party of Florida will begin its two-day annual meeting, with events including evening caucus meetings. They begin at 7 p.m., Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Dr., Orlando.
