Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2015

The prospects of medical marijuana passing the necessary 60 percent threshold next year on a Presidential ballot are looking pretty good, according to the latest survey from Public Policy Polling. Sixty-three percent of voters say they would pass such an initiative, to only 29 percent who say they would be opposed. Democrats (78/15) overwhelmingly favor it with independents (61/32) slightly […]

Melissa RossAugust 20, 2015

Even though a 120-day moratorium on dispensing Charlotte’s Web is still in place in Jacksonville, one official involved with regulating the drug for cultivation and sale says the process is moving forward, albeit very slowly, for getting the non-euphoric THC oil into the hands of sick patients. “Over the past few weeks, everyone has learned […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 6, 2015

A tough question facing Florida – and particularly South Florida – is: How can we combat flakka? But first, a more basic question: Why should Florida bother to combat flakka? It’s mind-boggling that people continue to take the dangerous drug. And its use apparently is increasing. Anyone with half a brain should know that the […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 5, 2015

A tough question facing Florida – and particularly South Florida – is: How can we combat flakka? But first, a more basic question: Why should Florida bother to combat flakka? It’s mind-boggling that people continue to take the dangerous drug. And its use apparently is increasing. Anyone with half a brain should know that the […]

Melissa RossJune 17, 2015

The parents of epileptic children in Jacksonville say they’re prepared to pack up and move to Colorado to treat their kids if the Jacksonville City Council doesn’t reverse course on its new moratorium on Charlotte’s Web dispensaries. “I hope the city will change its mind, because there are lots of families who don’t want to […]

Associated PressJune 16, 2015

People caught with small amounts of marijuana could soon get a civil citation instead of a jail term in Florida’s largest county, which may become the first in the state to treat marijuana possession as a non-criminal act. The Miami-Dade County Commission is considering a proposal to let police issue $100 civil citations for possessing […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 5, 2015

Getting thrown in jail for possessing pot in Miami-Dade County could soon be a thing of the past. A county commission committee is set to consider a proposal that would give law enforcement the option to issue a civil citation rather than slap marijuana-users with a criminal charge. The plan has support from the Miami-Dade Police […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMay 4, 2015

Critics of the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline” could be on their way to a huge victory in Hillsborough County. According to The Tampa Tribune, State Attorney Mark Ober has shifted his position on addressing first-time juvenile marijuana offenders with civil citations instead of criminal charges. Ober’s opposition last year helped kill efforts to include misdemeanor marijuana possession on […]

James CallApril 23, 2015

Sen. Rob Bradley may want to consider performing some CPR on SPB 7066. Many speculated the legislative fix for last year’s Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 was dead when Bradley said it was in a “holding pattern.” The comment came after the state Department of Health prevailed in a series of legal challenges blocking […]

James CallApril 21, 2015

Word had been spreading through the Capitol this week that the attempt to broaden Florida’s medicinal marijuana law had hit a roadblock. Monday when the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee considered a Right to Try Act, allowing terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs and procedures, no attempt was made to include marijuana in the proposal. […]

Tag: marijuana
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Poll: Medical marijuana initiative at 63% in Florida (is that good or bad?)

Charlotte’s Web in Jacksonville: “We need to move quickly”

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Fight flakka with a tax on tobacco

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Fight flakka with a tax on tobacco

Jax mom on Charlotte’s Web flap: Families will move to Colorado if moratorium stays

Largest Florida county proposes citations for pot possession

Miami-Dade set to consider marijuana civil citation program

Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober shifts position on juvenile pot charges

Baywood scores quick victories in Charlotte’s Web rule battle

Jeff Brandes on higher levels of THC: Wait until next year