Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A trio of rallies tomorrow will call for Gov. Rick Scott “to retract the state’s appeals on two medical marijuana constitutional challenge cases,” the organizer said in a news release.
Three protests will take place simultaneously Wednesday at noon — in Tallahassee, on the Historic Capitol steps; in Orlando at Lake Eola Park; and at Game Day Sports Bar in West Palm Beach, said Gary Stein, cannabis activist, author and producer of the “CannaFight Tonight” internet broadcasts.
Invited speakers include Democratic candidate for governor and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in Tallahassee and Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith in Orlando, Stein said, and Democratic candidate for Attorney General Ryan Torrens has confirmed his attendance in Tallahassee.
“Video screens will also broadcast statements from Cathy Jordan, the ALS patient being kept alive by smoking cannabis for over 30 years,” and from Democratic candidate for Governor Philip Levine, he added.
The state is appealing two high-profile cases: Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner’s circuit court win to grow and juice his own medicinal cannabis, and plaintiffs backed by Orlando attorney John Morgan who won a decision allowing them to smoke medical marijuana.
Both rulings have been challenged by the state’s Department of Health, which regulates the drug through the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, and reports to Scott.
“The governor continues to state that he is only following the law,” Stein said in a statement. “But what if the law has been deemed unconstitutional by a learned Florida circuit court judge? Is that blind faith in the legislative action that created those statutes still truly following the law?
“The plain language of the amendment that is now part of the Florida Constitution clearly states that these patients have a constitutional right to this lifesaving medicine,” he added. “For our governor — who swore to uphold that document — to appeal these decisions and put the lives of people like Cathy Jordan and Joe Redner in jeopardy is a breach of that duty.”
Scott “is going to have to hear the cries of his constituents and see their faces,” Stein said.
Evening Reads
“Democrats’ Senate dream slips away” via Alexi McCammond of Axios
“Koch-backed super PAC endorses Ron DeSantis for governor” via Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times
“Gwen Graham’s health care plan includes Medicaid expansion and eliminating wait-lists for seniors” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Rene Plasencia campaign fires back over data theft allegation” via Florida Politics
“Rush to establish residency for Rick Scott’s Jacksonville City Council appointee” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Nursing home records ruling put on hold” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida
“Parkland panel wants PROMISE Program changed” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Final investigation into Eastpoint fire could take weeks; contract says vendor responsible” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Tallahassee Democrat
“FPL customers to receive Hurricane Matthew recovery fund” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida
“Rays reveal Ybor City stadium details, including $892 million price tag” via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times
Quote of the Day
“Regrettably, Senate Democrats made up their minds to oppose this nomination long before tonight’s announcement.” — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, on President Trump’s nomination of conservative appellate judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Wake Up Early?
The Astronauts Memorial Foundation will host the first of what is anticipated to be an annual Space Port Area Conference for Educators (SPACE). The three-day event begins at 9 a.m., Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Center for Space Education, M6-306, 405 State Road, Merritt Island.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created after the Feb. 14 mass shooting in Parkland, will continue a three-day meeting. That’s at 8:30 a.m., BB&T Center, Chairman’s Club, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise.
The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of “Be Scam Smart” workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. That’s at 10 a.m., Hollywood Hills United Methodist Church, 400 North 35th Ave., Hollywood.
CareerSource Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will partner with groups and companies such as the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to hold a job fair for careers in the manufacturing and construction industries. That’s at 10 a.m., Broward County Library Lauderdale Lakes branch, 3580 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes.
Democratic candidate for Governor and former Tallahassee congresswoman Gwen Graham will hold a news conference to discuss “the future of women’s access to reproductive health care” following President Trump’s latest Supreme Court nominee. Reporters interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Matt Harringer at [email protected]. That’s at noon, 299 NW 25th St., Miami.
Republican candidate for Governor Adam Putnam will make an announcement relating to veterans and military. He will be joined by Maj. Gen. H.D. “Jake” Polumbo (Ret.) and others. Media planning to attend are asked to email [email protected] by 8 a.m. tomorrow. That’s at 3 p.m., 2730 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
