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

James CallApril 21, 2015

Word had been spreading through the Capitol this week that the attempt to broaden Florida’s medicinal marijuana law had hit a roadblock. Monday when the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee considered a Right to Try Act, allowing terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs and procedures, no attempt was made to include marijuana in the proposal. […]

James CallApril 21, 2015

The Florida Senate Wednesday is expected to consider a medicinal marijuana bill, but it appears efforts to allow higher-levels of THC in cannabis medicine in Florida have stalled. “We’re in a holding pattern,” said Sen. Rob Bradley, the sponsor of a glitch bill for last year’s Charlotte’s Web law. SPB 7066 makes several changes to […]

James CallApril 20, 2015

Sen. Anitere Flores’ bill requiring women seeking an abortion to wait 24 hours after a face-to-face meeting with their doctor is on its way to the Senate floor. The Fiscal Policy Committee approved SB 724 Monday on a party-line vote. Current law allows women to decline discussing the stage of fetal development and possible side […]

James CallApril 20, 2015

It may not compare to the estimated $4 billion wagered in office betting pools during the NCAA basketball tournament, but Capitol observers have some side bets going on about the 2015 Legislative Session. One is when will the hanky drop. Entries for #CateSineDie are due by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Predict when lawmakers adjourn the 2015 Legislative Session, […]

James CallApril 19, 2015

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Florida is poised to take a significant step in making medicinal cannabis available to people who need it. This week, decisions by lawmakers at the Florida Capitol and an administrative court judge could determine when and how. Frustrated by legal challenges preventing implementation of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 lawmakers are pursuing a legislative fix allowing […]

James CallApril 17, 2015

Florida’s unemployment rate remained flat in March at 5.7 percent, unchanged from February, but down .8 percent from a year ago, according to a report released Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The DEO report can be found here. It indicates there are 548,000 Floridians looking for work while another 33,000 fell out of […]

James CallApril 16, 2015

In the tension-filled chambers of a Legislative Session’s final days words matter and poorly chosen ones can stress long-standing relationships. Supporters of the Boys and Girls Club of Florida on Thursday pushed back on remarks Sen. Eleanor Sobel made after Wednesday’s meeting of the Children Families and Elder Affairs Committee. The committee had unanimously approved […]

James CallApril 16, 2015

Growers may want to start planning to plant cannabis seeds. Whether the authorization will come under the Compassionate Medicinal Cannabis Act of 2014, or SPB 7066, which is moving in the Senate or under an amended bill is still unclear. Rep. Matt Gaetz, however, said Thursday that Florida “is on the back 9” in clearing […]

James CallApril 15, 2015

Abortion rights opponents and proponents packed a Senate meeting room Wednesday when the Judiciary Committee took up a proposal to mandate a 24-hour waiting period. SB 724 requires a face-to-face meeting between a physician and a woman to discuss the procedure at least 24 hours before it is performed. “When one makes a major decision […]

James CallApril 15, 2015

As the House met in full session Wednesday morning, patient advocates were abuzz about a new amendment allowing terminally ill patients to use medicinal marijuana. Rep. Matt Gaetz tried to attach it to the bill that would create the Right to Try Act, which would allow patients to use experimental drugs and devices that have completed […]

James Call

Jeff Brandes on higher levels of THC: Wait until next year

Changes to Charlotte’s Web law stalling in Senate

Senate panel approves abortion waiting-period

#CateSineDie: placing bets on Session’s end

Important week ahead for medical marijuana advocates

Florida jobless rate remains unchanged; Rick Scott touts job gains

Boys and Girls Clubs advocates cry foul over sexual predator remark

Five minutes with Matt Gaetz, talking FDA lies and being on the back 9 with medicinal marijuana

Abortion waiting period advances, constitutional questions unanswered

House joins medical marijuana debate this session