Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Florence SnyderMarch 20, 2017

Lola Pouncey, a Florida Department of Health (DOH) “bureau chief” making $90,000 a year in “medical quality assurance,” set up a jewelry store in her state office. She commandeered state workers, state time, and state property in her for-profit business, according to the agency’s inspector general (IG), whose findings were available to DOH Secretary Celeste Philip […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 1, 2017

The Tampa Bay Times is just plain wrong about something, and it has stuck in my craw for nearly a week now. Last Thursday, a Times headline read: “Voter intent on medical marijuana ignored.” Two days later, columnist John Romano followed suit with virtually the same narrative. “Ignored?” The clear inference of the editorial – […]

Drew WilsonNovember 19, 2015

A Senate committee voted Thursday to introduce a bill that would improve state programs for infants and toddlers with developmental delays. Proposed by the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, SB 7034 renames the Infants and Toddlers Early Intervention Program to the “Early Steps Program” and requires the Florida Department of Health to […]

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 CallApril 23, 2015

A potential Florida medical marijuana grower is getting every opportunity to make its case in court. Baywood Nurseries of Apopa insists the proposed rule to enact the 2014 Charlotte’s Web law by the Florida Department of Health is unfair to smaller nurseries: Blocking it from applying for one of five licenses to grow marijuana. The DOH […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

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One challenge remains to block planting Florida’s first legal marijuana crop. And the Department of Health has a 5:00 p.m. deadline Wednesday in its effort to defeat it and begin implementing the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Late Tuesday, Judge W. David Watkins dismissed the challenge filed by Master Growers. The order is here. Watkins ruled that Master Growers […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

On Wednesday morning, Sen. Rob Bradley temporarily postponed Senate consideration of SPB 7066, the legislative fix for the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Scheduled for a second reading is the measure addressing concerns believed to be driving legal challenges to a proposed rule for the Act. Meanwhile, the state Department of Health faces 5 […]

James CallApril 19, 2015

Florida is poised to take a significant step in making medicinal cannabis available to people who need it. This week, decisions by lawmakers at the Florida Capitol and an administrative court judge could determine when and how. Frustrated by legal challenges preventing implementation of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 lawmakers are pursuing a legislative fix allowing […]

James CallApril 13, 2015

The Medical Cannabis Trade Association of Florida is considering whether to withdraw its challenge to a proposed rule of the Charlotte’s Web law. Judge W. David Watkins ordered the association on Monday to divulge its membership when he granted a motion to compel filed by the state Department of Health. DOH attorney Eduardo Lombard argued […]

James CallMarch 2, 2015

Don Clifford’s vision is getting closer to becoming a reality. He leads a group of investors who’ve put up $7 million to build the world’s largest in-door marijuana cultivation facility. Monday he was in Tallahassee for a hearing on a proposed rule for Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law. Regulators and stakeholders have been meeting since August […]

Tag: DOH

Florence Snyder: What does it take to get fired at DOH?

Saying voter intent ‘ignored’ on medical marijuana, Tampa Bay Times is just plain wrong

Senate panel approves changes to Florida “Early Steps Program”

Final arguments heard in Charlotte’s Web challenge

Charlotte’s Web hearing to enter 2nd day; glitch bill still on calendar

Charlotte’s Web challenge dismissed, DOH ordered to respond to last one

Charlotte’s Web “glitch” bill pulled from Senate floor

Important week ahead for medical marijuana advocates

Judge: Medical Cannabis Trade Association must disclose members

Delayed medical marijuana draft rule goes through new public hearing