Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2018

The state constitution “creates a procedural right to seek treatment with smokable marijuana,” according to a new filing in an appeal by patients seeking to light up medicinal cannabis. Attorney Jon Mills filed a 48-page answer brief late Thursday, in response to the state’s 57-page brief last month arguing that the smoking of medical marijuana […]

Scott PowersSeptember 10, 2018

Voters who support Florida’s medical marijuana law and especially those who support further legalization of marijuana appear to be lifting Nikki Fried into the lead in the Florida Agriculture Commissioner’s race, according to a new poll. Fried, the Democrat, leads among all voters surveyed last week by St. Pete Polls, getting 47 percent of the support of […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2018

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat facing a tough battle for re-election, filed a bill Wednesday that could help him with a key demographic: veterans seeking relief through medical cannabis. Federal law bars VA doctors from prescribing medical marijuana to veterans. That’s not right. I just filed a bill to let these doctors prescribe medical marijuana […]

Michael MolineAugust 20, 2018

Freshly fired as a Wells Fargo bank customer for taking campaign cash from the medical marijuana industry, Agriculture Commissioner candidate Nikki Fried on Monday envisioned a state-sponsored bank to work with cannabis providers. During a news conference outside the Capitol office she would occupy if she secures the Democratic nomination and wins in November, Fried supported […]

Jim RosicaAugust 9, 2018

Gary Stein, a medical marijuana historian and advocate, has opened his own Florida fundraising panel — the first of its kind — to support pro-marijuana candidates and influence legislation. Clarity PAC was officially registered Wednesday as a non-profit corporation and political committee, state records show. Its mission: “To advocate for full legal access to medicinal […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

Ordinance 2018-75, which would revise existing medical cannabis regulations, moved out of its first of two Jacksonville City Council committees Monday. The code was first formulated in response to “Charlotte’s Web” low-THC cannabis being the single legal strain, and after an extended period of debate, processing and dispensing were allowed in commercial districts, with cultivation permitted […]

Jim RosicaJune 12, 2018

In an act of ‘humble plagiarism,’ Joe Redner‘s attorney is following the lead of John Morgan in asking the state Supreme Court to take over litigation on medical marijuana. In a filing posted Monday, attorney Luke Lirot “suggests” that the state’s highest court take over deciding whether Redner — the Tampa strip club mogul — can grow and juice […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 8, 2018

On Friday, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine — a Democratic candidate for Governor — rolled out his proposal to legalize the sale of adult-use cannabis. “If elected Governor,” Levine tweeted, “I will carefully move to legalize the sale of limited quantities recreational marijuana for adults.” “Careful means controlled,” Levine said, with “highly regulated” sales and distribution […]

Jim RosicaMay 29, 2018

Saying “this madness has to end,” Orlando attorney John Morgan called on Gov. Rick Scott to drop the hastily-filed appeal of a decision allowing medical marijuana to be smoked in Florida. Morgan spoke at a Tuesday news conference that was streamed live on Facebook. In a 22-page order released Friday, Tallahassee Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2018

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 […]

Tag: cannabis

Marijuana smoking ban case smolders in appellate court

Poll: Marijuana legalization support helps Nikki Fried’s Ag. Commish bid

Bill Nelson files bill to get veterans access to medical cannabis

Nikki Fried proposes new bank to serve medical cannabis providers

Medical marijuana advocates start their own PAC

Jacksonville City Council panel approves cannabis code change

Joe Redner also wants Supreme Court to decide on medical marijuana

Philip Levine rolls out cannabis legalization proposal

John Morgan calls on Rick Scott to drop medical marijuana appeal

Judge strikes down ban on smoking medical marijuana