Staff Reports
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The recreational marijuana amendment didn’t pass, but Florida’s cannabis industry is still expecting 2025 to be a big year.
In late 2024, the state approved 22 new Medical Marijuana Treatment Center licenses, doubling the number of licensees. There may also be progress on federal rescheduling and lowering criminal penalties for use, possession, or sale. However, the rule making process is not finalized, and the timeline or outcome could change when the new administration gets into the White House.
Amid these and other developments, the Medical Marijuana Business Association is holding its Florida Marijuana Policy Conference in Tallahassee.
Set for Monday, the conference will explore Florida’s rapidly growing cannabis industry and provide insights from industry stakeholders, including executives from the top medical marijuana companies in the state.
The daylong event will include a panel discussion featuring former Trulieve Government Relations Director Lauren Niehaus, Green Dragon Director of Operations Eric Sevell, Cresco Labs President John Sullivan, Fluent President Robert Beasley, Ron Watson of Verano and Bill Pfeiffer of Ayr.
In addition to insights from established cannabis businesses, a panel on new MMTC license holders will feature Jammie Treadwell of Treadwell Farms, John Allen of FTG Nursery, John Lockwood of Lockwood Law Firm, Jim McKee of Foley & Lardner, and Louise Wilhite-St. Laurent of Panza Maurer.
Lobbyist Jeff Sharkey of Capitol Alliance Group will moderate the conference panel discussions. For more information or to register, visit mmbaflpolicycon.com.
Evening Reads
—“The ‘Ice Maiden’ cometh: Can Susie Wiles, Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff, survive?” via Elisabeth Bumiller of The New York Times
—“Trump wants to change colleges nationwide. GOP-led states offer a preview” via Heather Hollingsworth and Jocelyn Gecker of The Associated Press
—“Matt Gaetz mulls Florida gubernatorial bid” via Alex Nitzberg of Fox News
—“Washington remembers Jimmy Carter, symbol of a gentler era, as Trump’s presidency looms” via Aaron Zitner, Xavier Martinez and Cameron McWhirter of The Wall Street Journal
—”At Carter’s funeral, a rare image of presidential unity” via Vanessa Friedman of The New York Times
—”Carter honored at a Capitol where his agenda ‘ground to a halt’” via Paul Kane of The Washington Post
—“President Carter, my father, and me” via Stephen Rodrick of Rolling Stone
—“Why ‘Late Regime’ presidencies fail” via Ronald Brownstein of The Atlantic
—”Opioids killed fewer people in 2023, Ashley Moody says” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics
—”An explosive Fox Sports lawsuit has turned into a salacious, sexist mess” via Kyndall Cunningham of Vox
Quote of the Day
“The first person he talked to in the beginning of the day was Susie, and the last person he talked to at night was Susie.”
— Chris LaCivita, on Donald Trump’s and Susie Wiles’ working relationship.
Put it on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Order Clare Lattanze a Level Up to celebrate her promotion to Communications Director in U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s office.
Maybe the fact-checking era is over, but your average social media user could still use a Reality Check.
Citrus greening has been crushing Florida’s orange industry for years, but the researchers at UF IFAS are making progress on a possible breakthrough — if they pull it off, every grove owner in the state would be happy to snag them an Orange Crush.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Gators look to build on upset of Tennessee
After knocking off previously undefeated and top-ranked Tennessee, the Florida Gators travel to Fayetteville to face Arkansas on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Gators (14-1, 1-1 SEC) dismantled the Volunteers on Tuesday night, 73-43, earning the first victory over a #1 team in Gainesville in program history. Florida dominated from the opening tip, outscoring the Volunteers 34-15 in the first half. The game was the biggest blowout of a #1 team in The Associated Press poll since Lew Alcindor led UCLA to a 101-69 victory over top-ranked Houston in the Astrodome in 1968.
Now the question is, “Can Florida maintain the momentum of the victory over Tennessee?”
Arkansas (11-4, 0-2) saw a six-game winning streak snapped by Tennessee, followed by a loss to 23rd-ranked Ole Miss. In his first season as the Arkansas head coach, John Calipari has leaned on forward Adou Thiero (16.9 points per game) and guard Boogie Fland (15.5 ppg, 5.9 assists per game) to lead the offense. Fland has the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the SEC, dishing over three assists for every turnover.
The Gators and Razorbacks met just once last season, with Florida winning easily at home, 90-68. That win ended Arkansas’s three-game winning streak in the series.
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
