Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2018

Quoting George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, a Florida judge has ruled that the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana is unconstitutional. In a 22-page order released Friday, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said that the ban on smoking is “invalid because it conflicts” with the constitutional amendment on medicinal cannabis approved by statewide voters in 2016. A one-day […]

Jim RosicaMay 25, 2018

The Florida Supreme Court has turned down a request from Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner to let him immediately pursue growing and juicing his own marijuana. The court on Friday denied his petition to remove a delay of the effect of a lower court’s ruling. The case now is under review at the 1st District Court of Appeal. […]

Jim RosicaMay 18, 2018

The state’s Department of Health says a trial court made an “erroneous conclusion” that Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner “has a constitutional right to homegrown, juiced (medical) marijuana.” But Redner’s attorney says the state simply continues to argue – also erroneously – that the state’s constitutional amendment on medical marijuana doesn’t mean what it says. The department filed a […]

Drew WilsonMay 16, 2018

Surterra Wellness’ newest medical marijuana treatment center will open for business in Largo Thursday morning. The new venue, located at 10761 Ulmerton Rd., is the company’s third in the Tampa Bay region and eighth in the Sunshine State. Other locations include Miami Beach, Orlando, Deltona, Pensacola and Tallahassee, with a Jacksonville location on the horizon. […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2018

A legislative panel is again taking the state’s medical marijuana regulators to task, asking whether they are “refusing to modify the rules” governing the drug. Kenneth Plante, coordinator of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC), fired off a letter Tuesday to Department of Health general counsel Nichole Geary. In it, he said the department’s Office […]

Jim RosicaMay 7, 2018

Joe Redner now wants a court to order the state to reimburse his legal costs — including $16,000 for PowerPoint presentations — after he won a lawsuit to start growing and juicing his own medical marijuana. The Tampa strip club mogul last week filed a motion with Circuit Judge Karen Gievers, seeking more than $45,000 to pay […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2018

The head of the clinic where Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner‘s doctor works says he’s concerned whether medical marijuana regulators are “trying to go after Dr. Barry Gordon because of his involvement in the Redner case.” Redner is a lung cancer survivor who is in remission, and Gordon recommended juiced marijuana as the best […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2018

Touting it as the most bipartisan and therefore best-prospect bill in a long time for the issue, Florida’s U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz unveiled a proposal to legalize and promote federal research into medical marijuana Thursday. Gaetz, the Republican from Fort Walton Beach, was joined by U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, the Republican from Kendall, U.S. Rep. […]

Jim RosicaApril 24, 2018

Sen. Dana Young is pressing the Department of Health to ramp up efforts to issue more licenses for medical marijuana providers. Young, a Tampa Republican, sent a letter to Office of Medical Marijuana Use director Christian Bax on Tuesday. She referred to the state’s cracking the 100,000 mark last Friday – coincidentally on April 20, or […]

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 […]

Tag: Medical marijuana

Judge strikes down ban on smoking medical marijuana

Supreme Court takes initial pass on ‘home grow’ case

State files to block effect of ‘home grow’ ruling

Surterra Wellness setting up shop in Largo

Lawmakers fire another warning shot over medical marijuana rules

Pay up: Joe Redner seeks costs after winning ‘home grow’ lawsuit

Health Department sends ‘warning’ to Joe Redner’s marijuana doc

Matt Gaetz, Carlos Curbelo, Darren Soto lead marijuana research bill

Dana Young: Let’s get the medical marijuana licensing train rolling

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