Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 6, 2017

Florida for Care, the group that led the effort to pass Amendment 2 last year, continues to insist its support for expanding medical marijuana in Florida is in no way related to recreational use. For marijuana opponents, however, that simply doesn’t cut it. Their claim is that Florida for Care is trying to find a […]

Scott PowersMarch 6, 2017

A new bill introduced Monday to enact Florida’s medical marijuana program is being sharply criticized by promoters of Amendment 2 for keeping the budding business restricted to the state’s current seven approved producers. Senate Bill 1758, introduced by state Sen. Denise Grimsley, the Republican from Lake Wales, lays out how Florida should manage and regulate […]

Joe ReedyFebruary 13, 2017

Three months after Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on medical marijuana, state health officials and prospective pot-seeking patients are at odds over proposed rules that would spell out who could get marijuana. State officials have recommended restrictions on what type of patients can qualify for medical marijuana, and where they can obtain it. […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

The right way to put the new constitutional amendment on medical marijuana into effect is to “treat (it) like medicine,” supporters said Tuesday. The Senate Health Policy committee held its first workshop for the 2017 Legislative Session on medical cannabis implementation. “The states that have done it poorly, with a lack of regulation, allowed folks to market […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2016

With establishment lobbyists now representing it, the medical marijuana cause appears to have become—grab your pearls—respectable. Florida for Care, the nonprofit organization that is advocating for “well-regulated” medicinal pot in the state, has hired Brecht Heuchan and The Mayernick Group to advocate for its interests. Heuchan, who says he voted against the medical marijuana constitutional amendment this November, has […]

Scott PowersDecember 6, 2016

John Morgan has powerful split emotions about the prospect of running for governor in 2018 as a Democrat, and figures he has at least a year to decide. Morgan, the 60-year-old Orlando trial attorney who championed Florida’s Amendment 2 medical marijuana initiative this year, said others – not he – are pushing for him to run for […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2016

Florida’s bong ban, as toothless as critics say it may be, now is preempted by the recently approved constitutional amendment on medical marijuana. That’s according to Ben Pollara, campaign manager of United for Care. The group has fought for the ballot initiative, which first failed in 2014 before passing this year with 71 percent of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 17, 2016

John Morgan isn’t closing the door on a 2018 gubernatorial bid. Morgan said he has been overwhelmed by calls for him to run for governor in 2018, but said he needs “a lot of time to think about it” before going down that road. “I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support and love this week,” […]

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

John Morgan for Florida governor? Such a notion is not only not absurd, but it could, in fact, have surprisingly broad support across Florida. I see it as one part Bernie Sanders, one part Donald Trump, and two parts bourbon. Doesn’t that sound like a cocktail Floridians would line up around the block to drink? If you watched […]

Peter SchorschNovember 10, 2016

Tuesday’s slate of general elections in Florida certainly provided a list of winners and losers, and I’m not just talking about the candidates. Here is my list of the real winners and losers coming out of Election Day. Winners Rick Scott — The Naples Republican was an early backer of the president-elect, comparing Trump’s rise to his own 2010 gubernatorial […]

Tag: Ben Pollara

Florida For Care ‘web of influence’ raises questions, concerns about recreational marijuana

Senate medical marijuana bill keeps industry restricted to seven distributors

Florida officials, voters clash over medical marijuana rules

Treat medical marijuana “like medicine,” advocates say

Implementation of medical marijuana amendment brings together unlikely allies

John Morgan torn on possible governor run, and in no hurry

Bong ban doesn’t apply to medical pot, advocate says

For the Governor? John Morgan says he has ‘much to think about’ before making decision

Take seriously the idea of John Morgan running for governor in 2018

A rundown of the real winners and losers from Florida’s general election