Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 24, 2015

Locals in Jacksonville had not paid much attention to Alex Patton, a Gainesville Republican political consultant, until relatively recently. However, he and his front group, PausePot.org, managed to insinuate themselves into the local political discourse two weeks ago by getting a moratorium banning Charlotte’s Web cultivation, distribution, or processing for 180 days. The moratorium was passed at […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

The big news coming out of the Jacksonville City Council meeting: the repeal of 2015-436, the ordinance passed two weeks ago issuing a moratorium on Charlotte’s Web cultivation, processing, and distribution. Recall that two weeks ago, as almost the very last act in the Council meeting, the Council passed the moratorium by a unanimous vote. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2015

During the past couple of weeks, a controversial (to some) ordinance (2015-436) issuing a moratorium on medical marijuana distribution was passed in Jacksonville’s City Council and signed into law. Local activists are concerned. The strong expectation is that the city council meeting Tuesday night will be full of discussion about the medical marijuana moratorium during […]

Melissa RossJune 17, 2015

The parents of epileptic children in Jacksonville say they’re prepared to pack up and move to Colorado to treat their kids if the Jacksonville City Council doesn’t reverse course on its new moratorium on Charlotte’s Web dispensaries. “I hope the city will change its mind, because there are lots of families who don’t want to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2015

With a unanimous vote in its favor in City Council, it would have been a surprise if Alvin Brown had not signed the Charlotte’s Web moratorium passed last Tuesday at City Council into law. And so he did. But perhaps the words in the statement his office gave WJXT bear closer examination. “The mayor recognizes the […]

Phil AmmannMay 27, 2015

After months of legal wrangling and court battles, Florida is closer to allowing production of non-euphoric medical marijuana under the law known as “Charlotte’s Web” passed last year. On Wednesday, a Tallahassee administrative judge rejected the last challenge to the state’s draft rules. Judge David Watkins dismissed the claim by Baywood Nurseries of Apopka, which said the […]

James CallMay 8, 2015

The latest challenge to proposed regulations for Florida’s medical marijuana law is in its final stage. Late Thursday, attorneys for the Department of Health and Baywood Nurseries filed proposed final orders with Judge W. David Watkins. The two sides repeated the arguments they made during a hearing last month. Baywood went into greater detail in […]

James CallMay 4, 2015

Baywood Nurseries’ challenge to a proposed regulatory structure for a medicinal marijuana industry will move forward. Judge W. David Watkins, on Monday, rejected a Department of Health’s motion to dismiss the challenge based on the Apopka growers’ lack of standing. DOH had cited a 30-year-old ruling in a Medicaid case in which a challenge to […]

James CallApril 28, 2015

Medical marijuana advocates are now looking to 2016. One of the casualties of the budget debate waging between the House and Senate is a glitch bill for last year’s Charlotte’s Web law. SPB 7066 died Tuesday when the House unexpectedly adjourned the 2015 session three days early. “I have never seen more lobbyists with their […]

James CallApril 24, 2015

The battle over the Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law may come down to a snapshot in time. The question before administrative law Judge W. David Watkins is at what point Baywood Nurseries became an affected party with standing to sue and block the state from implementing the Compassionate Medical Marijuana Act of 2014. Put another way, to […]

Tag: Charlotte’s Web

For Alex Patton, PausePot.Org is nothing new

Jacksonville City Council repeals Charlotte’s Web moratorium

Ben Pollara talks Jacksonville Charlotte’s Web moratorium

Jax mom on Charlotte’s Web flap: Families will move to Colorado if moratorium stays

Alvin Brown signs Charlotte’s Web moratorium into law

Final challenge to medical marijuana rule dismissed; licensing could start by summer

Final arguments heard in Charlotte’s Web challenge

Judge allows Charlotte’s Web rule challenge to continue

Medical marijuana advocates disappointed, look to 2016

Charlotte’s Web rule challenge comes down to ‘snapshot in time’