Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 11, 2018

State medical marijuana regulators are slated to hold three rulemaking hearings Monday in Tallahassee. The Department of Health regulates the drug through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use. The first hearing, at 9 a.m., will cover a proposed rule on the “Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Supplemental Licensing Fee,” the “annual payment by a registered (provider) to cover […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2018

Screen-Shot-2017-08-02-at-11.40.09-AM-e1501688497817.png

Jonathan Kilman, formerly with Foley & Lardner, has started his own influence firm, Converge Government Affairs. Kilman, chairman and partner of the new company, announced the move on LinkedIn this week. “I am pleased (OK, excited) to announce the launch of Converge Government Affairs, a Miami-based government and public affairs firm,” he wrote. The new concern […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2018

In a brief conference call Friday, the Governor and Cabinet agreed to accept applications to become the next commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) from next Monday through June 22. Depending on who applies, Scott and Cabinet members — CFO Jimmy Patronis, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi — will conduct […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2018

Screen-Shot-2018-06-08-at-12.48.23-PM.png

A Jacksonville man’s sentence on drug possession charges was struck down by an appellate court Friday because of the state’s “911 Good Samaritan Act.” A unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal reversed Thomas John Pope‘s 15-month sentence on possession of heroin and marijuana charges. Pope, 26, already was released from minimum custody this […]

Jim RosicaJune 6, 2018

The country’s biggest medical marijuana provider on Wednesday announced it was buying its way into the Florida market. In a press release, MedMen Enterprises Inc. of Los Angeles said it had agreed to pay $53 million for what’s known in Florida as a “medical marijuana treatment center” license from Central Florida’s Treadwell Nursery. MedMen management say they will […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2018

No surprise: A Tallahassee judge has decided her ruling to allow patients to smoke medical marijuana in Florida should be effective sooner rather than later. In a Tuesday order, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said her decision will now take effect Monday, according to plaintiffs’ counsel Jon Mills. His clients include Cathy Jordan, a woman with Lou Gehrig’s disease who […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2018

Saying there is “no doubt or conflict in the evidence,” The Florida Bar has asked the state’s Supreme Court for an early win in its effort to shut down a Miami firm that fights people’s traffic tickets for them. The Bar asked for summary judgment in its case against TIKD, which it says is engaging in the unlicensed practice […]

Jim RosicaJune 4, 2018

A Tampa orchid nursery seeking to break into the medical marijuana market is challenging the Department of Health‘s plan to give a preference in how it awards new licenses to grow the plant. Louis Del Favero Orchids filed a challenge Friday to a proposed rule from the department’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, which regulates […]

Jim RosicaJune 4, 2018

A Tallahassee judge on Monday did not immediately rule on whether to immediately make effective her ruling to allow patients to smoke medical marijuana in Florida. After a nearly hourlong hearing, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said she’d take the plaintiffs’ request “under advisement” but added she would make a decision “as quickly as possible.” Gievers also asked plaintiffs’ […]

Jim RosicaJune 1, 2018

A black attorney who has lupus is suing the state’s Department of Health for race and disability discrimination, saying she was wrongly forced to quit. Sharmin Hibbert, 36, filed her lawsuit in Leon County Circuit Civil court on Thursday, court records show, seeking her rehiring. Among other things, Hibbert said her supervisor—current General Counsel Nichole Geary—“reprimanded (her) […]

Jim Rosica

Regulators to convene on medical marijuana rules

Personnel note: Jonathan Kilman opens own lobbying firm

Rick Scott, Cabinet set tight timetable to fill OFR spot

Drug case overturned because of ‘good Samaritan’ law

MedMen paying $53M to enter Florida medical marijuana market

Judge says OK to quick effect of marijuana ruling

Florida Bar again asks for early win in traffic-ticket firm case

‘Flower’ fight: Citrus preference sparks medical marijuana rule challenge

Judge will decide on lifting ‘stay’ in smokable marijuana case

Lawyer with lupus sues Health Department for discrimination