Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Larry GriffinAugust 8, 2016

Eleven months ago, Amanda Gammisch was rushed to the hospital, unconscious and having seizures, and she learned she had Grade 3 brain cancer. On Monday, she became the first Orlando patient to receive CBD Oil, a therapeutic cannabis product from Surterra Therapeutics, which will hopefully be able to fight the cancer and extend her life. […]

Larry GriffinJuly 27, 2016

The City of Orlando has decided that for right now, three medical marijuana dispensaries is enough for the Orlando area. After Gov. Rick Scott passed the Charlotte’s Web law in 2014, which allowed medical marijuana for medical patients when no other treatment would suffice, three dispensaries ended up getting licensed to the area: one on […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 26, 2016

On Monday evening, as the eyes of most Jacksonville Democrats were glued to their TV screens to see Philadelphia’s drama, a more local event, with more relevance in terms of local representation, was off television and in a local church. Candidates in Jacksonville’s House District 13, where incumbent Reggie Fullwood has drawn three primary challengers and […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 15, 2016

Fourth Circuit State Attorney Angela Corey debated fellow Republican challengers Wes White and Melissa Nelson Friday at the First Coast Tiger Bay meeting. Among the topics addressed: administration of the death penalty; the backlog of appeals in the public defender’s office; Nelson’s diverse base of donors; Stand Your Ground defenses; Corey’s alleged penchant for “overcharging” defendants; and the right approach […]

Keith MorelliJuly 5, 2016

As the 2016 election season swings into fifth gear with politicians and committees filling treasuries with contributions, this was the total collected in June by the leading special interest group opposed to legalizing medical marijuana in Florida: $00.00. After tallying more than half-million dollars in May, all but $1,000 from a single donor, Mel Sembler, […]

Keith MorelliJune 6, 2016

Saying Florida is poised to be home to a blooming multibillion-dollar industry, a New York City financial and strategic advisory firm specializing in the business of marijuana, is hosting a cannabis investment conference in the Sunshine State this week. Florida voters will cast ballots in November on whether to fine-tune the existing law allowing limited […]

Scott PowersApril 13, 2016

Orlando-Police-Chief-John-Mina-and-Orlando-Mayor-Buddy-Dyer-1024x1024.jpg

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Wednesday that his proposal to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana would give police officers a third choice between arresting or just warning people. The proposed ordinance, which will go before the Orlando City Council on Monday, creates a new municipal civil citation — a $50 penalty — for people caught […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2016

State regulators say they will no longer tax do-it-yourself cigar wrappers, or “blunt wraps,” a tobacco product perhaps better known as one used to smoke marijuana. That cost – a combination of an excise tax and surcharge that comes to a whopping 85 percent – was only paid by wholesalers, but the cost was passed to consumers. The decision by the […]

Brendan FarringtonMarch 11, 2016

The Legislature was getting ready to wrap up its 60-day legislative session Friday absent the drama that marked last year’s lawmaking process. The most important thing left for lawmakers on the final day was passing the $82.3 billion budget, a vote that couldn’t take place before 2:53 p.m. because of a requirement that lawmakers wait […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 17, 2016

The Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which approached Gov. Rick Scott in 2014 for a deal to offer gambling in Florida, essentially offered not to press for a Las Vegas-style casino with blackjack near Pensacola if the state wouldn’t fight their efforts to just open a poker-style cardroom. In return, the Poarch Creeks would […]

Tag: marijuana
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

First Orlando-area cancer patient gets access to therapeutic marijuana products

City of Orlando puts moratorium on any more marijuana dispensaries until after November vote

Jax HD 13 Dems talk crime, pension tax, marijuana, LGBT rights, and biased media

State Attorney candidates tangle at Jacksonville Tiger Bay

Anti-Amendment 2 groups has quiet fundraising month

Florida to hold 1st cannabis investment conference in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday

Buddy Dyer proposes decriminalizing pot in Orlando

Florida will no longer charge 85% tax on “blunt wraps”

Almost there: Sine die is nigh

Poarch Creek Indians offered to give up blackjack for their own gambling compact