Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Commissioner Nikki Fried has settled on eight finalists for the newly created position of Director of Cannabis for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to a spokesman. They are:
— Holly Bell, of Nashville, a freelance cannabis and hemp business development consultant.
— W. Steven Edmonds Jr., of Oviedo, a managing member of National Hemp LLC, which focuses on “education, research and import of products made from hemp.” He also managed Libertarian candidate Bill Wohlsifer’s 2014 campaign for Florida Attorney General.
— Ryan Fingerhut, of Palm Springs, California; a Florida State law school graduate and California lawyer who consults for that state’s cannabis providers.
— Bill Monroe, a cannabis “logistics” consultant and the former acting Director of Operations for 3 Boys Farm.
— Cole Peacock, of Fort Myers, who describes himself as “a change agent for corporations,” advising on branding, growth and “social responsibility” strategies.
— Joseph Rosado, of DeLand, medical director of Coastal Wellness Center in Ormond Beach. He oversees “medical cannabis recommendations” there.
— Daniel Sparks, of Oakland Park, director of government affairs for BioTrackTHC, a cannabis tracking and compliance software company based in Fort Lauderdale.
— Eric Stevens, of Miami Beach, a cannabis policy researcher and managing director of Florida for Care, the nonprofit founded in 2014 “to advocate for the implementation of a strong, well-regulated, medical marijuana system under Amendment 2.”
Among other things, Fried says she wants the new person to start the rule-making process for growing hemp in Florida, Fried said. That follows the Farm Bill that was signed into law by President Donald Trump last year.
Fried has said she’s close to making a hire.
Evening Reads
“Rick Scott: Donald Trump should use executive power on border” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Marco Rubio introduces plan to prevent mass casualty attacks” via Anthony Man of the Sun-Sentinel
“Ron DeSantis takes aim at Common Core in executive order” via Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times
“Pam Bondi registers as federal lobbyist” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics
“Campaign donation limits really don’t limit donors” via Dan Sweeney of the Sun Sentinel
“Fixing Florida’s voting woes — lawmakers pledge new reforms” via Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix
“Legislation would allow patients to say ‘no thanks’ to pain pills” via Florida Politics
“Jeff Brandes files Florida First Step Act” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics
“Federalist Society celebrates new, conservative-leaning Florida Supreme Court with fireworks at Walt Disney World” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel
“Eight women died at this plastic surgery business” via Michael Sallah and Maria Perez of USA Today and Naples Daily News
Quote of the Day
“I do not think it is a legitimate goal of regulation or licensure to try to create a guild to basically raise prices for consumers.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, at a “deregathon” in Orlando.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors will meet at 8:30 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a challenge filed by former Congresswoman Corrine Brown after she was convicted in a charity scam. That’s at 9 a.m., Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building, 56 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta.
The VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors will meet in Duval County. It will be the first meeting for the tourism-marketing agency’s new president and CEO, Dana Young. That’s at 9 a.m., One Ocean Resort and Spa, 1 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach.
The state Revenue Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an “impact” conference, which typically involves analyzing the potential costs of legislation. That’s at 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, The Capitol.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold an “appeals clinic” for people who might appeal denials of FEMA claims from Hurricane Michael. That’s 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., TCC Gadsden Center, 223 Pat Thomas Parkway, Quincy.
