Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 21, 2018

Saying a lower-court judge “misconstrued the plain language of Florida’s Medical Marijuana Amendment,” the state is asking an appellate court to reverse her ruling allowing Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner to grow and make juice of his own medical marijuana. Outside counsel for the Department of Health filed an initial brief Thursday in its appeal at […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2018

The state constitution “creates a procedural right to seek treatment with smokable marijuana,” according to a new filing in an appeal by patients seeking to light up medicinal cannabis. Attorney Jon Mills filed a 48-page answer brief late Thursday, in response to the state’s 57-page brief last month arguing that the smoking of medical marijuana […]

Danny McAuliffeAugust 28, 2018

Nikki Fried won the primary election for Agriculture Commissioner Tuesday night, defeating Democratic opponents Roy David Walker and Jeff Porter. Fried, a Broward-based lawyer and medical marijuana lobbyist, entered the race relatively late in June but became a quick favorite who easily outraised Walker and Porter and stood out among their lackluster campaigns. “I’m honored that Florida Democrats […]

Jacob OglesAugust 20, 2018

Wells Fargo closed down campaign accounts for Agriculture Commissioner candidate Nikki Fried after finding out she supported legalizing medical marijuana and accepted money from players in the industry. The Fort Lauderdale Democrat plans to address the bank’s “arbitrary, unprecedented action” at a Tallahassee news conference at the Capitol Monday morning. The bank first started inquiring about […]

Jim RosicaAugust 17, 2018

Rachel Nordby, who’s been a deputy solicitor general for Attorney General Pam Bondi, is heading to the Shutts & Bowen law firm as a partner in the Tallahassee office, the firm announced Friday. Nordby, who starts Sept. 10, will be vice chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. Her hire follows another recent high-profile addition […]

Jim RosicaAugust 13, 2018

As it defends a slew of cases over medical marijuana, the state of Florida has spent close to $2 million on outside lawyers. Nearly all of that went to one firm. Records reviewed last week show at least $1.9 million approved by the Department of Health (DOH) going to two law firms — mostly Vezina, Lawrence & Piscitelli, […]

Peter SchorschAugust 9, 2018

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Democratic Agriculture Commissioner candidate Nikki Fried will be in Orlando Thursday night for a fundraiser hosted by Democratic rainmakers. The host committee for the event includes attorney John Morgan of mega firm Morgan & Morgan, former CFO and early Fried endorser Alex Sink as well as Richard Swann, whose involvement in Democratic Party fundraising goes […]

Jim RosicaJuly 27, 2018

Christian Bax, director of Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), has stepped down after a controversial three-year tenure that frustrated patients, angered lawmakers, and witnessed an explosion in litigation. His resignation is effective Aug. 10. Deputy director Courtney Coppola will serve as interim director, Department of Health spokesman Devin Galleta said Friday. Bax’s resignation letter, released […]

Jim RosicaJuly 19, 2018

The Legislature opened the state’s wallet again Thursday, granting a request from the state’s medical marijuana regulators for another $13 million in operating costs. The approval from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission didn’t come without some grousing, however. The Department of Health, under Gov. Rick Scott, regulates the drug through its Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). House Democratic […]

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 […]

Tag: John Morgan

State asks court to reverse medical marijuana ‘home grow’ ruling

Marijuana smoking ban case smolders in appellate court

Nikki Fried secures Democratic nomination for Agriculture Commissioner

Citing marijuana, Wells Fargo won’t take Nikki Fried’s money

Personnel note: Rachel Nordby joins Shutts & Bowen

State has spent $2M on legal bills for medical marijuana

John Morgan, Alex Sink hosting Nikki Fried fundraiser Thursday

Christian Bax quits as state’s top medical marijuana regulator

Lawmakers grudgingly OK more money for marijuana regulators

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