Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 23, 2017

Stark differences of policy positions were evident between the one Democrat and three of the four Republicans running to fill the open Florida House District 44 seat but the differences between the Republicans proved more subtle in a debate Friday, boiling down to who claimed the strongest ownership of particular GOP positions. The debate sponsored […]

Jim RosicaJune 20, 2017

In the wake of the Special Session’s implementing bill, the Florida Department of Health is gearing up to make rules governing the use of medical marijuana. The department published a “notice of proposed regulation” in the Florida Administrative Register last Friday. But the state still could face a lawsuit from personal-injury attorney John Morgan, who backed […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 13, 2017

The sponsor of a bill to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment said he is confident the state would prevail if sued over the proposal’s smoking ban. “We believe we will win that lawsuit,” said House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who sponsored the House’s version of the medical marijuana implementing bill during both the […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

After a false start during the regular Legislative Session, lawmakers Friday passed a medical marijuana implementation bill on the last day of the Special Session, sending it to Gov. Rick Scott. The wide-ranging legislation (SB 8-A) will give guidance to state regulators as they put the state’s constitutional amendment medical marijuana into effect. Gov. Rick Scott said […]

Peter SchorschJune 9, 2017

Florida sugar growers are pushing back hard on accusations that “Big Sugar and Big Citrus” had a hand in writing legislation to expand access to medical marijuana. On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that that tucked into sweeping legislation on medical marijuana is “preferential treatment to companies that promise to convert orange juice factories […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

The state Senate passed its medical marijuana implementation bill on Friday, the last scheduled day of the Special Session. The measure (SB 8-A), after technical and “product safety” amendments were tacked on, was approved by a 28-8 vote. Senators also passed, 36-0, a related public records bill exempting the personal identifying information of patient caregivers that […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

A change to the Special Session’s medical marijuana legislation that would have allowed patients to smoke it was handily defeated Thursday. The amendment offered by Rep. Evan Jenne, a Dania Beach Democrat, was killed on the House floor by a vote of 37-71. “If a doctor and a patient determine that (smoking) is the best way to […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2017

Everyone loves a mystery, so how did a provision to help concerns with underused or shuttered citrus factories get into this year’s medical marijuana legislation? Language in both bills (SB 8-A, HB 5A) would give preferential treatment for up to two growing licenses to applicants who can show “they own one or more facilities that are, or were, […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2017

Another Central Florida medical marijuana shop is opening, this one operated by the licensed marijuana medicines producer Trulieve in Edgewater in Volusia County. The dispensary, at 103 Boston Rd., will be the first in the Space Coast area, providing both low-THC and high-THC products through capsules, vaporizers and tinctures, for patients who are registered as […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Sen. Jeff Brandes is proposing a sweeping change to his chamber’s medical marijuana implementation bill that would, among other things, remove a limit on the number of licenses for medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs). The St. Petersburg Republican filed the 63-page strike all amendment late Wednesday. His “Putting Florida Patients First Act” also removes a requirement that marijuana growers and sellers […]

Tag: Medical marijuana
Image via AP.

HD 44 special election candidates debate health care, education, marijuana, tourism support

Health Department getting started on medical marijuana rulemaking

Ray Rodrigues: ‘We believe we will win’ suit over medical marijuana smoking ban

Lawmakers finally pass medical marijuana implementation bill

Sugar growers: We were not involved ‘in any way’ with medical marijuana implementation

Senate passes medical marijuana implementation bill

House beats back effort to allow smoking of medical marijuana

Whodunit? or, How did citrus get into Special Session medical marijuana bill?

Medical marijuana shop opening in Edgewater

Jeff Brandes files amendment to medical marijuana in Senate