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Staff ReportsJune 22, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s political committee brought in more than $600,000 in one month to a newly formed political committee. The Miami Herald reported that Corcoran’s newly formed Watchdog PAC raised $608,000, half of which came from contributions from political committees run by Reps. Jose Oliva and Carlos Trujillo. The committee, the Herald reported, also […]

Mitch PerryJune 17, 2017

With another fourteen months to go before Florida Democrats choose their gubernatorial nominee, the most talked-about potential candidate wasn’t at the Leadership Blue Gala, one of the Party’s biggest events. And he won’t decide if he’ll even run until (maybe) next year. Nevertheless, Saturday afternoon’s forum in Hollywood — between Gwen Graham, Andrew Gillum and Chris […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 13, 2017

The sponsor of a bill to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment said he is confident the state would prevail if sued over the proposal’s smoking ban. “We believe we will win that lawsuit,” said House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who sponsored the House’s version of the medical marijuana implementing bill during both the […]

Joe ReedyJune 12, 2017

The Florida Legislature’s passage of a bill to enact the state’s constitutional amendment expanding the use of medical marijuana has ended one chapter in the battle over setting up regulations for the nascent industry. But pro-pot supporters say it doesn’t go far enough. Once Gov. Rick Scott signs the bill, the principal backer of getting […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

The state Senate passed its medical marijuana implementation bill on Friday, the last scheduled day of the Special Session. The measure (SB 8-A), after technical and “product safety” amendments were tacked on, was approved by a 28-8 vote. Senators also passed, 36-0, a related public records bill exempting the personal identifying information of patient caregivers that […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

A change to the Special Session’s medical marijuana legislation that would have allowed patients to smoke it was handily defeated Thursday. The amendment offered by Rep. Evan Jenne, a Dania Beach Democrat, was killed on the House floor by a vote of 37-71. “If a doctor and a patient determine that (smoking) is the best way to […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

As the medical marijuana implementation bill winds its way through the Special Session, some lawmakers still are grappling with whether smoking medicinal cannabis is the same as ‘vaping’ it. Before the Health and Human Services Committee approved the House bill (HB 5A) on Wednesday night, members asked bill sponsor Ray Rodrigues, the House Republican Leader from […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Where there’s no smoke, there’s a John Morgan lawsuit. Morgan—attorney, entrepreneur and main backer of Florida’s medical marijuana amendment—Wednesday said he still plans to sue the state despite lawmakers brokering a deal to include implementation of the measure in this week’s Special Session. Mainly, Morgan’s hair’s on fire that Florida doesn’t allow smokeable medicinal cannabis. Morgan first said […]

Peter SchorschMay 22, 2017

John Morgan was at his Trumpiest earlier this month when he took to social media to savage his longtime aide-de-camp, Ben Pollara, over the failure of legislation implementing medical marijuana this Session. Labeling him “Fredo,” (from the Godfather trilogy) and telling FloridaPolitics.com that Ben “f**ked the patients,” Morgan accused Pollara of putting the interests of wannabe medical marijuana businesses […]

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron has yet to decide to join House Speaker Richard Corcoran in calling for a Special Session on medical marijuana implementation, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Negron, a Stuart Republican, is still “in the process of having discussions with senators in response to the memorandum he sent last Thursday,” Katie Betta said in […]

Tag: John Morgan

Report: Richard Corcoran raises $608K for new Watchdog PAC

Florida Democratic Gala draws big stage, love fest for gubernatorial hopefuls

Ray Rodrigues: ‘We believe we will win’ suit over medical marijuana smoking ban

John Morgan plans lawsuit to allow for smoking of medical pot

Senate passes medical marijuana implementation bill

House beats back effort to allow smoking of medical marijuana

Are vaping and smoking the same? Ray Rodrigues won’t say

John Morgan: I’m still suing the Legislature

Was it actually John Morgan who had financial conflicts in marijuana implementation?

Still no decision from Joe Negron on marijuana Special Session