Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 26, 2015

Pro-medical marijuana groups are praising a bill filed by state Sen. Jeff Brandes Monday. The Florida Medical Marijuana Act would authorize physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients afflicted with one of 14 specific illnesses. “I’m very encouraged by Sen. Brandes’ bill. As a sheriff and as the son of a cancer survivor, responsible, comprehensive, medical marijuana legislation is critically […]

James CallJanuary 15, 2015

Medical marijuana advocates will gather in Coral Gables next month to plan their next step in changing Florida law. Florida for Care, the legislative branch of a grassroots effort that grew out of the People United for Medical Marijuana campaign for last year’s failed Amendment 2 initiative, is scheduling a two-day meeting to discuss policy […]

Guest AuthorDecember 7, 2014

In November, Amendment 2, which would have allowed the use of medical marijuana in Florida, garnered just under 58 percent support. It needed 60 percent to pass. While falling short of passage, medical marijuana received a larger share of the vote than has decided the previous eight gubernatorial elections in Florida. The proposal got more […]

Guest AuthorNovember 10, 2014

When I debated Barney Bishop a few weeks ago in Miami, he claimed that he had “smoked more marijuana than everyone in the crowd – combined.” Well, he must have fried his brain doing so, because he can’t even put together a coherent thought in a “victory lap” piece like the one published on “Politics […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2014

Rubble. Fife. The Dinosaur. Bishop. What do these Barneys have in common? None of them live in reality. Barney Bishop’s most recent hyperventilation published on Context Florida about Amendment 2 — which would allow medical marijuana in Florida — both repeated some of his previous made-up contentions and introduced some new ones. Again, Bishop ignores […]

Guest AuthorOctober 19, 2014

Early this month Ben Pollara, campaign manager for United for Care, wrote a column for Context Florida challenging some of my arguments opposing Amendment 2, the medical marijuana measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. Some of Ben’s answers were just plain wrong and some were misleading, so let’s look at his attempts to answer my […]

Guest AuthorOctober 1, 2014

Barney Bishop’s column in Context Florida opposing Amendment 2 was as rambling and incoherent as it was wrong. One might suspect he’s gotten his hands on some of this “high THC” weed he’s so terrified about. I generally do the sensible thing and ignore Bishop’s paranoid screeds, but his latest missive not only contains the […]

Guest AuthorJuly 30, 2014

Florida has a long-standing rivalry with the other Sunshine State, California. As a proud Floridian myself, I have to say that this Eastside-Westside beef almost always comes down in favor of the East. And as the campaign manager for United for Care — the organization advocating for medical marijuana and the passage of Amendment 2 […]

Tag: Ben Pollara

Pro-medical marijuana backers praise Jeff Brandes' bill to broaden medical marijuana law

Florida for Care to hold strategy session in Coral Gables

Ben Pollara: If Legislature fails, Amendment 2 will be back on ballot in 2016

Ben Pollara: The battle to legalize medical marijuana moves to the Legislature

Ben Pollara: I may be naive, but I’m certain Floridians would benefit from medical pot

Barney Bishop: Challenges to Amendment 2 loopholes still not answered

Ben Pollara: One more time, here are the reasons to pass Amendment 2

Ben Pollara: Florida can show other states how to regulate medical marijuana

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.