James Call, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallApril 27, 2015

It’s a waiting game. Transcripts from a two-day hearing on the state’s medicinal marijuana law will be posted Monday. Later this week, briefs on a motion to dismiss the suit blocking implementation of the law authorizing low-THC cannabis as medicine are due in court. It’s been almost 11 months since Gov. Rick Scott signed the […]

James CallApril 24, 2015

The battle over the Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law may come down to a snapshot in time. The question before administrative law Judge W. David Watkins is at what point Baywood Nurseries became an affected party with standing to sue and block the state from implementing the Compassionate Medical Marijuana Act of 2014. Put another way, to […]

James CallApril 24, 2015

Patricia Nelson, director of the Florida Office of Compassionate Use, spent most of her Friday morning on the defensive. What kept her busy was justifying the plan to regulate the state’s nascent marijuana industry. For three hours and 10 minutes, attorneys for Baywood Nurseries of Apopka grilled Nelson about licensing requirements to grow marijuana and […]

James CallApril 23, 2015

A potential Florida medical marijuana grower is getting every opportunity to make its case in court. Baywood Nurseries of Apopa insists the proposed rule to enact the 2014 Charlotte’s Web law by the Florida Department of Health is unfair to smaller nurseries: Blocking it from applying for one of five licenses to grow marijuana. The DOH […]

James CallApril 23, 2015

Sen. Rob Bradley may want to consider performing some CPR on SPB 7066. Many speculated the legislative fix for last year’s Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 was dead when Bradley said it was in a “holding pattern.” The comment came after the state Department of Health prevailed in a series of legal challenges blocking […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

Krysta is an 18-year-old Florida State University student. She’s the reason Lauren Book marches. Krysta’s abuse started when she was 6. She did not tell anyone for six years, until she first told a camp counselor, then her parents. Wednesday was the first time she has talked publicly about her abuse. “My legs are shaking, […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott met Wednesday with senators to discuss moving forward with budget negotiations. Scott used an Agency for Health Care Administration study listing the profit margins for hospitals. Budget negotiations have derailed over a plan to use Medicaid money to make up for the loss of revenue when the federal government ends a reimbursement […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

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One challenge remains to block planting Florida’s first legal marijuana crop. And the Department of Health has a 5:00 p.m. deadline Wednesday in its effort to defeat it and begin implementing the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Late Tuesday, Judge W. David Watkins dismissed the challenge filed by Master Growers. The order is here. Watkins ruled that Master Growers […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

On Wednesday morning, Sen. Rob Bradley temporarily postponed Senate consideration of SPB 7066, the legislative fix for the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Scheduled for a second reading is the measure addressing concerns believed to be driving legal challenges to a proposed rule for the Act. Meanwhile, the state Department of Health faces 5 […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

Lauren Book puts action to words. The author, activist and abuse survivor will complete her annual 1,500-mile walk from the Keys to Tallahassee on Wednesday, capped off with a rally to bring awareness to the problem of sexual abuse of children. The 30-year-old former teacher told her family 13 years ago about abuse she experienced […]

James Call

Investors and growers await Charlotte’s Web ruling

Charlotte’s Web rule challenge comes down to ‘snapshot in time’

Compassionate Use director grilled 3 hours on Charlotte’s Web rule

Charlotte’s Web hearing to enter 2nd day; glitch bill still on calendar

Baywood scores quick victories in Charlotte’s Web rule battle

Lauren Book ends trek with Tally rally to protect Florida’s children

Governor gaggles with reporters on hospital profits

Charlotte’s Web challenge dismissed, DOH ordered to respond to last one

Charlotte’s Web “glitch” bill pulled from Senate floor

Lauren Book walks so children know they’re not alone