Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2018

Following the feds’ lead, Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday issued an emergency rule allowing a new drug for child epilepsy patients that contains CBD, a ‘non-euphoric’ chemical from cannabis. Bondi’s filing with the Secretary of State notes there are now about “64 patients in the state of Florida who are legally using an FDA-approved […]

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

Facing yet another drug overdose epidemic, the Florida Legislature has an opportunity to move the needle in the right policy direction — finally. As members of the Florida House and Senate are poised to pass new criminal violations, this time for trafficking in fentanyl and synthetic drugs, the heat is on to include policies that […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

According to Kratom advocates, Godwin’s Law makes bad law, as a state representative’s comments undergo sustained scrutiny. Florida State Rep. Kristin Jacobs, a Democrat from Coconut Creek who filed legislation to outlaw Kratom components, caused outrage in the community of Kratom advocates Monday by saying their advocacy for the palliative properties of the plant reminded […]

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

After marijuana amendments passed in eight of the nine states where it was on the ballot Tuesday, now nearly a quarter of all Americans live in states where recreational use of marijuana is legal. Voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada approved recreational marijuana amendments last week, giving nearly 50 million more Americans the right […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 27, 2016

Opioid abuse has ravaged the country in recent years. In 2015, a staggering 19 million people are estimated to have misused prescription medicines. Most obtained them from friends or relatives. And many of those who misused the drugs were first-time users. In response to that epidemic, Walgreens kicked off its Safe Medication Disposal Program last April […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2016

There were multiple reports Thursday that the DEA is going to consider moving cannabis off of Schedule 1 this year, where it now resides with heroin. In Jacksonville, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy was asked by FloridaPolitics.com about his dispensation toward this move. Spoiler alert: He did not commit to a position. Surgeon General Murthy said that […]

James CallApril 7, 2015

Florida’s war on marijuana cultivation was an unqualified success last year, according to the annual report from the Domestic Marijuana Eradication (DME) Program. In 2014, sheriff’s deputies and police officers statewide broke up a combined 582 marijuana grow houses and outdoor operations, said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who announced the findings on Tuesday. “Our partnership […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 23, 2015

Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli is right: no one has really made the case to him or anyone that the statutory language of SB 1030, legalizing low-THC medical marijuana, is flawed; but it absolutely is and must be fixed legislatively. I’m willing to accept partial blame here. The conversations surrounding 1030 have largely been driven […]

Tag: DEA

Cannabis chronicles: Pam Bondi OKs new marijuana-based drug

Jason Pye, Sal Nuzzo: Mandatory minimum reform needed in overdose epidemic

Godwin’s law makes bad law, claim Kratom advocates

Marijuana reform went 8 for 9 on the ballot; is it at a tipping point?

With legislators on hand, Walgreens unveils Florida drug disposal kiosks

U.S. Surgeon General noncommittal on cannabis rescheduling

Florida seizes $95 million in marijuana plants in 2014, new report says

Ben Pollara: Fixes that can make Florida's medical marijuana law work