Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJuly 3, 2018

An appellate court delivered the equivalent of a judicial smackdown Tuesday following its decision last month to reinstate a delay on the effect of a lower court’s ruling that medical marijuana can be smoked in Florida. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal (DCA) issued a 5-page order calling Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ ruling to allow patients […]

Jim RosicaJune 18, 2018

An appellate court has shot down a trial judge’s order to make immediate her ruling that medical marijuana can be smoked in Florida. The 1st District Court of Appeal, in a one-page order dated Monday, quashed Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ order allowing patients to smoke. The state’s appeal of the decision placed an automatic ‘stay,’ or […]

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2018

Florida now has topped 100,000 “active” and “qualified” patients in its medical marijuana use registry, the Department of Health announced in an email Friday. But again, according to a department spokesman, that doesn’t mean the department will issue another four licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, as provided under state law. The state had exceeded 100,000 overall almost […]

Drew WilsonMay 21, 2018

Capitol Alliance Group posted another strong quarter, reporting an estimated $425,000 in lobbying pay between New Year’s and March 31. The two-man shop run by Jeff Sharkey and Taylor Patrick Biehl showed median earnings of $215,000 in its legislative lobbying report and $210,000 in its executive one. Top-end estimates show the firm brought in up […]

Peter SchorschAugust 15, 2017

With a client roster that includes everything from local governments to energy organizations, Capitol Alliance Group posted strong quarterly earnings during the second quarter. The boutique firm of Jeff Sharkey and Taylor Patrick Biehl reported earning at least $460,000 — $230,000 for their legislative work and $230,000 for their executive branch work — during the second […]

Rosanne DunkelbergerFebruary 27, 2017

People don’t come to Florida’s Capitol without an agenda, and when they want to share it with the world, you can bet they’ll plan a news conference/media availability to share it via the Fourth Estate. Wednesday was particularly rich with such events; I was assigned to go to ‘em all. As a babe in these […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 12, 2017

Treadwell Nursery appears to be sticking with Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart. Joanna Lee Clary Bonafanti and J. Larry Williams registered with the state to lobby the Florida Legislature on behalf of the Central Florida nursery on Dec. 13. The nursery, which was one of several applicants seeking a permit to grow and distribute medical marijuana, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 10, 2015

A medical marijuana lobbyist said a half-dozen Florida nurseries that had applied but failed to become growers “are thinking seriously about protesting” the state’s license-award process. Taylor Patrick Biehl told FloridaPolitics.com on Thursday that he and fellow lobbyist Jeff Sharkey had “spoken with seven or eight nurseries and a variety of administrative lawyers about the protest possibilities, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 3, 2015

A bill that would allow for stronger varieties of pot as medical marijuana in Florida unanimously cleared its second Senate review panel. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice OK’d the measure (SB 460) on Thursday. State Sen. Rob Bradley, the Fleming Island Republican behind the bill, said it was aimed at allowing stronger but still non-smokeable marijuana for […]

Ryan RayNovember 17, 2015

A bill to allow dying patients to use medical marijuana as a palliative treatment passed its first hurdle in the House Tuesday morning. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved House Bill 307 by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz and Democratic prime co-sponsor Rep. Katie Edwards by a vote of 9-4. Panel chair Rep. Carlos Trujillo was among the four Republicans voting ‘No.’ The […]

Tag: Jeff Sharkey

Appellate court calls out ‘abuse of discretion’ in medical marijuana case

Appellate court puts hold on smokable medical marijuana

State tops 100,000 marijuana patients — but no more providers

Capitol Alliance Group nets up to $610K in Q1 lobbying pay

Capitol Alliance Group’s Q2 earnings could reach $719K

Eight-hour shoes and a whirlwind of press conferences

Treadwell Nursery hires Gunster lobbyists Joanna Lee Clary Bonafanti and J. Larry Williams

Nurseries gearing up for pot protests, lobbyist says

Bill allowing stronger medical marijuana advances in House

Expanded medical marijuana regime bill passes House panel