Drew WilsonMarch 12, 2019
11min806
VISIT FLORIDA funding and school choice expansion are a go. Gambling bills and a full certificate of need repeal are a no.
Tag: Ben PollaraImage via AP.
Drew WilsonMarch 12, 2019Drew WilsonMarch 12, 2019
9min1373
The state’s most tuned in political insiders have some firm opinions on two of the top Republicans in national politics. Florida Politics reached out to more than 100 of the state’s top political minds on to get their take President Donald Trump’s re-election odds and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz standing with his campaign trail bestie, […]
Peter SchorschFebruary 8, 20198min549
Republicans were a near monolith in saying former Congressman had outperformed their expectations.
Drew WilsonFebruary 8, 20197min941
Gambling expansion is a bad bet, but smokable pot is even money.
Peter SchorschJanuary 7, 2019
6min916
While the rest of us were enjoying some downtime during the holidays, Miami-based Converge Government Affairs was busy building a sister public affairs firm, Converge GPS. Converge chairman Jonathan Kilman announced the launch of Converge GPS (short for Global Public Strategies), which will be an affiliated but separate, bipartisan firm focused on public affairs, corporate communications and political […]
Drew WilsonDecember 5, 2018
6min632
Incoming Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried announced her inaugural committee Wednesday, with political consultant Ben Pollara and Jenni Shaffren — Fried’s sister — tapped to serve as committee co-chairs. Pollara was a senior adviser to Fried’s campaign and served as the campaign manager of the successful 2016 ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana in the Sunshine […]
Peter SchorschSeptember 1, 2018
5min311
On Tuesday morning, the general election season (unofficially) begins. And after a brief holiday hiatus, Sunburn also returns with a slightly different look. Let me explain; I am extremely excited about what Florida Politics has in store for our loyal readers next week. Starting Tuesday — and continuing through the week — Florida Politics is […]
Ryan NicolAugust 14, 2018
5min332
Florida medical marijuana activists announced the formation of a new money group aimed at legalizing the drug for medicinal use nationwide. The organization, called “Empowering Wellness,” was formed in part by longtime Florida activists Eric Stevens and Ben Pollara. The pair worked on Florida’s medical marijuana campaigns in both 2014 and 2016. The group was […]
Jim RosicaJuly 27, 2018
11min2318
Christian Bax, director of Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), has stepped down after a controversial three-year tenure that frustrated patients, angered lawmakers, and witnessed an explosion in litigation. His resignation is effective Aug. 10. Deputy director Courtney Coppola will serve as interim director, Department of Health spokesman Devin Galleta said Friday. Bax’s resignation letter, released […]
Jim RosicaMay 26, 2018
8min1393
Quoting George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, a Florida judge has ruled that the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana is unconstitutional. In a 22-page order released Friday, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said that the ban on smoking is “invalid because it conflicts” with the constitutional amendment on medicinal cannabis approved by statewide voters in 2016. A one-day […]