Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallApril 19, 2015

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Florida is poised to take a significant step in making medicinal cannabis available to people who need it. This week, decisions by lawmakers at the Florida Capitol and an administrative court judge could determine when and how. Frustrated by legal challenges preventing implementation of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 lawmakers are pursuing a legislative fix allowing […]

James CallApril 14, 2015

A significant rewrite is coming to the Charlotte’s Web glitch bill, according to a variety of sources. Tuesday morning, SPB 7066 sponsor Sen. Rob Bradley pulled the proposal from the Senate floor after lawmakers filed seven amendments late Monday. Lawmakers and stakeholders say the move gives them more time to continue to work on refining the Bradley […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 7, 2015

More news on Florida’s war on potheads. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee unanimously approved a “blunt wrap” tax Tuesday. The type of rolling paper used to wrap cigars (or giant marijuana joints) would be subject to tobacco taxes under the proposed law. Here’s the deal: Lawmakers really, really wants to tax your blunt wrappers. But they’ve […]

James CallApril 7, 2015

Florida’s war on marijuana cultivation was an unqualified success last year, according to the annual report from the Domestic Marijuana Eradication (DME) Program. In 2014, sheriff’s deputies and police officers statewide broke up a combined 582 marijuana grow houses and outdoor operations, said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who announced the findings on Tuesday. “Our partnership […]

James CallApril 6, 2015

Support for medicinal marijuana is growing once again in Florida, according to a Quinnipiac Poll taken this past month. It found 84 percent of registered voters support legalization of medical marijuana and 52 percent support full legalization. The results are consistent with other states. “Bare majorities in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania say they support allowing […]

James CallMarch 22, 2015

Florida Medical Cannabis Association lobbyist Louis Rotundo nailed it this past month when he said, “We’re about to smoke them out.” Rotundo commented after the Department of Health released a proposed Charlotte’s Web rule, a product of a negotiated rule-making session with stakeholders in a medicinal marijuana industry. “I think the Department did as good […]

James CallMarch 22, 2015

Florida Medical Cannabis Association lobbyist Louis Rotundo nailed it this past month when he said, “We’re about to smoke them out.” Rotundo commented after the Department of Health released a proposed Charlotte’s Web rule, a product of a negotiated rule-making session with stakeholders in a medicinal marijuana industry. “I think the Department did as good […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

Rep. Matt Gaetz began Monday morning describing an “unsolved mystery”: how to get Florida’s first legal marijuana crop in the ground and begin supplying children afflicted with a severe form of epilepsy with medicinal oil to calm their seizures — which can be fatal. “I sense an enhanced appetite for Legislative review, but how to inject […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

Rep. Matt Gaetz began Monday morning describing an “unsolved mystery”: how to get Florida’s first legal marijuana crop in the ground and begin supplying children afflicted with a severe form of epilepsy with medicinal oil to calm their seizures — which can be fatal. “I sense an enhanced appetite for Legislative review, but how to inject […]

James CallMarch 6, 2015

At the end of the first week of the 2015 Legislative Session, the Capitol City’s newspaper printed an editorial cartoon that compared lobbyists to great white sharks. The cartoon asks which species pose a greater threat to Floridians; paid advocates or Jaws. Psychologists tell us we see what we know and what we know influences […]

Tag: marijuana
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Important week ahead for medical marijuana advocates

Charlotte’s Web glitch bill pulled from Senate floor, rewrite is underway

Legislature wants to tax your blunt wrappers

Florida seizes $95 million in marijuana plants in 2014, new report says

Medicinal marijuana support blooms at 84 percent, majority likes full legalization

Charlotte's Web glitch bill to fly Monday, bypass rules to get pot going

Charlotte’s Web glitch bill to fly Monday, bypass rules to get pot going

Charlotte's Web’s “unsolved mystery” frustrates Matt Gaetz

Charlotte’s Web’s “unsolved mystery” frustrates Matt Gaetz

The week that was in Florida politics