Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2018

Florida now has topped 100,000 patients in its medical marijuana use registry, according to the Department of Health. But that doesn’t mean the department will issue another four licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, as provided under state law. The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) reported Friday – coincidentally on April 20, or 4/20 – that there […]

Joe ReedyApril 14, 2017

Florida’s voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in November that formally legalized medical marijuana for chronic pain and other ailments, but with less than a month to go in their session, Florida legislators remain far apart on how to implement it. Bills in the Senate and House don’t agree on the details of expanding access […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 26, 2016

State lawmakers are taking steps to update Florida’s 2-year-old THC cannabis law during the 2016 Legislative Session. The state passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act in 2014. It allows patients to take a low-THC cannabis with the permission of their doctor. Supporters of the 2014 effort said it could help children with epilepsy and patients […]

Jim RosicaDecember 10, 2015

A medical marijuana lobbyist said a half-dozen Florida nurseries that had applied but failed to become growers “are thinking seriously about protesting” the state’s license-award process. Taylor Patrick Biehl told FloridaPolitics.com on Thursday that he and fellow lobbyist Jeff Sharkey had “spoken with seven or eight nurseries and a variety of administrative lawyers about the protest possibilities, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 3, 2015

A bill that would allow for stronger varieties of pot as medical marijuana in Florida unanimously cleared its second Senate review panel. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice OK’d the measure (SB 460) on Thursday. State Sen. Rob Bradley, the Fleming Island Republican behind the bill, said it was aimed at allowing stronger but still non-smokeable marijuana for […]

Ryan RayJuly 20, 2015

Patricia “Patti” Nelson, who has led the Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use since its inception in 2014, is leaving the department and joining the Executive Office of the Governor, a DOH spokesman said Monday. “Patricia Nelson will be rejoining the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget,” read a response to an inquiry. “The […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

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One challenge remains to block planting Florida’s first legal marijuana crop. And the Department of Health has a 5:00 p.m. deadline Wednesday in its effort to defeat it and begin implementing the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Late Tuesday, Judge W. David Watkins dismissed the challenge filed by Master Growers. The order is here. Watkins ruled that Master Growers […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

On Wednesday morning, Sen. Rob Bradley temporarily postponed Senate consideration of SPB 7066, the legislative fix for the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Scheduled for a second reading is the measure addressing concerns believed to be driving legal challenges to a proposed rule for the Act. Meanwhile, the state Department of Health faces 5 […]

James CallMarch 12, 2015

Today’s chapter of the “4th Floor Files” talks with lobbyist Taylor Patrick Biehl, a fan of both Bruce Springsteen and Abraham Lincoln. Last year, Biehl and Dr. Jeffry Sharkey created the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida. Biehl has been director of governmental affairs for the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, as an associate […]

Tag: Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida

State tops 100,000 marijuana patients—but don’t expect more providers

Legislature makes slow progress on medical pot rules

Proposal to “clean up” Florida’s medical marijuana law clears House panel

Nurseries gearing up for pot protests, lobbyist says

Bill allowing stronger medical marijuana advances in House

Compassionate Use director Patti Nelson leaving DOH

Charlotte’s Web challenge dismissed, DOH ordered to respond to last one

Charlotte’s Web “glitch” bill pulled from Senate floor

4th Floor Files talks with Taylor Patrick Biehl on Springsteen, loyalty and Lincoln