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

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

Florida orange production went up a bit and grapefruit production leveled off, according to the latest forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The Florida Department of Citrus announced the estimates Friday. “The June report projects the state’s orange crop to increase by 500,000 boxes to 68.5 million for the 2016-17 season,” its press […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

The state Senate passed its medical marijuana implementation bill on Friday, the last scheduled day of the Special Session. The measure (SB 8-A), after technical and “product safety” amendments were tacked on, was approved by a 28-8 vote. Senators also passed, 36-0, a related public records bill exempting the personal identifying information of patient caregivers that […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

A change to the Special Session’s medical marijuana legislation that would have allowed patients to smoke it was handily defeated Thursday. The amendment offered by Rep. Evan Jenne, a Dania Beach Democrat, was killed on the House floor by a vote of 37-71. “If a doctor and a patient determine that (smoking) is the best way to […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

In a 4-3 decision, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday agreed with a lower court and said limiting certain damages in personal-injury medical malpractice lawsuits is unconstitutional. The ruling split along the usual lines, with the progressive-leaning justices concurring, and the conservatives—now including new Justice C. Alan Lawson—in dissent. The Legislature established $500,000 limits, or caps, […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

Everyone loves a mystery, so how did a provision to help concerns with underused or shuttered citrus factories get into this year’s medical marijuana legislation? Language in both bills (SB 8-A, HB 5A) would give preferential treatment for up to two growing licenses to applicants who can show “they own one or more facilities that are, or were, […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Sen. Jeff Brandes is proposing a sweeping change to his chamber’s medical marijuana implementation bill that would, among other things, remove a limit on the number of licenses for medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs). The St. Petersburg Republican filed the 63-page strike all amendment late Wednesday. His “Putting Florida Patients First Act” also removes a requirement that marijuana growers and sellers […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

As the medical marijuana implementation bill winds its way through the Special Session, some lawmakers still are grappling with whether smoking medicinal cannabis is the same as ‘vaping’ it. Before the Health and Human Services Committee approved the House bill (HB 5A) on Wednesday night, members asked bill sponsor Ray Rodrigues, the House Republican Leader from […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

The House’s main budgeting panel on Wednesday cleared one of the bills planned for the Special Session dealing with tourism promotion, job training and public infrastructure. The Appropriations Committee, on a unanimous vote, OK’d the measure (HB 1A). Among other things, it creates the $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, and awards $76 million to and imposes accountability […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Where there’s no smoke, there’s a John Morgan lawsuit. Morgan—attorney, entrepreneur and main backer of Florida’s medical marijuana amendment—Wednesday said he still plans to sue the state despite lawmakers brokering a deal to include implementation of the measure in this week’s Special Session. Mainly, Morgan’s hair’s on fire that Florida doesn’t allow smokeable medicinal cannabis. Morgan first said […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Stephen Lawson has left the post of communications director for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to become Vice President of Government Relations for VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing agency. He announced the job change in an email Wednesday. Lawson has been making the rounds of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, previously serving as communications director […]

Jim Rosica

Latest forecast: Oranges up, grapefruit steady

Senate passes medical marijuana implementation bill

House beats back effort to allow smoking of medical marijuana

Supreme Court strikes down limit on medical malpractice awards

Whodunit? or, How did citrus get into Special Session medical marijuana bill?

Jeff Brandes files amendment to medical marijuana in Senate

Are vaping and smoking the same? Ray Rodrigues won’t say

House panel clears Special Session infrastructure, job training bill

John Morgan: I’m still suing the Legislature

Personnel note: Stephen Lawson moves to VISIT FLORIDA