Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaNovember 21, 2017

A medical marijuana provider is accusing the Department of Health of dragging its feet on allowing the company to once again sell ‘vaping’ devices. Trulieve this month filed a petition for declaratory statement with the department, which regulates medicinal cannabis through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use. In May, the department told Trulieve to stop selling wire-mesh […]

Guest AuthorNovember 16, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), a nursing home industry trade association, recently attacked my proposed “Resident’s Bill of Rights” amendment to the state constitution saying that it does not belong there, that it “weakens protections for residents,” and that it is “glaringly bad.” Unfortunately, they offered nothing in the way of evidence to support these claims and […]

Jim RosicaNovember 15, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee fired off a tweetstorm Wednesday in support of his proposed constitutional amendment to ban greyhound racing in Florida. Lee—a Thonotosassa Republican, previous Senate president and current candidate for Chief Financial Officer—called dog racing “cruel and inhumane,” and added the “greyhound industry opposes any real reform.” (His tweets are at bottom.) He filed […]

Jim RosicaNovember 15, 2017

A litany of lawsuits continues to jam up the state’s medical marijuana licensure process, the state’s top marijuana official told House lawmakers Wednesday. Christian Bax, executive director of the state Health Department’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, gave the House Health Quality Subcommittee an overview of his work, including the latest tally of legal challenges. “(Our) position […]

Staff ReportsNovember 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott announced that he will propose $178 million to support active military, veterans and their families in Florida as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget, according to a Monday press release. “He also announced his support for a proposal being considered by the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) to provide free tuition to the families of fallen first […]

Jim RosicaNovember 8, 2017

In an acutely personal attack, the head of a nursing-home advocacy group slammed a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a “nursing home and assisted living facility residents’ bill of rights.” The Florida Health Care Association’s Emmett Reed, this week called the amendment, filed by Constitution Revision Commissioner Brecht Heuchan, “glaringly bad.” Reed’s organization advocates […]

Guest AuthorNovember 7, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee has proposed a constitutional amendment, as a member of the state’s Constitutional Revision Commission, that would end live greyhound racing and allow all 12 of Florida’s greyhound tracks to essentially continue operating as minicasinos. It has been suggested that the proposal is an animal welfare proposal. There have been numerous attempts […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

The main backer of a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore some felons’ voting rights after they complete their sentences says his group now has collected over 750,000 signatures. Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, also said on Wednesday that he’s confident the amendment will have a million signatures by year’s end. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2017

A Florida nursery is suing the state over its preference in granting medical marijuana licenses to companies with underused or shuttered citrus factories. Tropiflora LLC of Sarasota filed suit against the Department of Health‘s Office of Compassionate Use—now the Office of Medical Marijuana Use—in Leon County Circuit Civil court on Friday, court records show. The […]

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that future governors could appoint new judges and justices up to their last day in office. But John Stemberger, the member of the Constitution Revision Commission who filed the amendment Thursday, said he was temporarily withdrawing the proposal to correct a drafting error. The amendment would make certain that judicial terms […]

Tag: constitutional amendment

Vape ’em if you got ’em, Trulieve says

Brecht Heuchan: FHCA ‘wrong on all’ counts

Tom Lee defends dog racing ban; Pam Bondi noncommittal

Legal challenges bog down medical cannabis process

Rick Scott wants millions for active-duty military, vets

Nursing home group denounces proposed residents’ ‘bill of rights’

Jeff Kottkamp: Real animal welfare reform starts with shelters

Voting restoration amendment has 750,000 signatures

Orange you mad? Citrus language leads to marijuana lawsuit

Proposal would assure governor’s power to name justices