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Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

As the medical marijuana implementation bill winds its way through the Special Session, some lawmakers still are grappling with whether smoking medicinal cannabis is the same as ‘vaping’ it. Before the Health and Human Services Committee approved the House bill (HB 5A) on Wednesday night, members asked bill sponsor Ray Rodrigues, the House Republican Leader from […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 7, 2017

Medical marijuana has officially been added to the agenda for this week’s special session. Gov. Rick Scott issued a proclamation Tuesday afternoon expanding the three-day special session to include medical marijuana implementing legislation. The announcement came shortly after Scott met with House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who carried the implementing legislation during the regular session. […]

Peter SchorschJune 7, 2017

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Lawmakers reached agreement early Wednesday, hours before the start of this week’s Special Session, to include medical marijuana implementation in the call. After FloridaPolitics.com broke this news, the Florida Senate announced that Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican, would “file legislation to implement Article X, section 29 of the Florida Constitution, which allows the use […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Where there’s no smoke, there’s a John Morgan lawsuit. Morgan—attorney, entrepreneur and main backer of Florida’s medical marijuana amendment—Wednesday said he still plans to sue the state despite lawmakers brokering a deal to include implementation of the measure in this week’s Special Session. Mainly, Morgan’s hair’s on fire that Florida doesn’t allow smokeable medicinal cannabis. Morgan first said […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2017

Democrats staked out their contempt for the stated purpose of the Legislature’s Special Session today with state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriquez saying lawmakers are being called in to bless a backroom deal to give the governor a slush fund. Rodriguez, of Miami, and state Rep. Shevrin Jones of West Park decried what they described as […]

Peter SchorschJune 6, 2017

What!? No medical marijuana in the call for a Legislative Special Session? OMG! Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Would it be so awful if lawmakers returned and did not take up medical marijuana? Now, don’t get me wrong. I think they should. If they don’t, the Florida Department of Health will be left […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

Legislative leaders working behind the scenes are getting closer to putting medical cannabis implementation into the call of this week’s Special Session. For instance, one senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “some progress” had been made but there was “no deal” as of Monday afternoon. When this week’s Wednesday-Friday Special Session was announced last Friday, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 3, 2017

Florida lawmakers will head back to Tallahassee for a special session next week to address economic programs and public education funding. Gov. Rick Scott, House Speaker Richard Corcoran, and Senate President Joe Negron announced Friday morning lawmakers will convene in a special session from June 7 to June 9 to tackle several issues relating to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2017

There are a number of pieces of unfinished business for the Florida Legislature this month; among them: agreeing on rules for medical cannabis. The regular Legislative Session ended without complete agreement from the Senate and the House, especially on caps for retail dispensaries for licensed growers. While the Special Session announced on Friday by Gov. Rick […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 30, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott did not close the door entirely on a special session on medical marijuana, telling reporters his office was reviewing his options. “I know there’s a lot of people involved and interested in the issue,” said Scott, following a stop in Fort Myers on Tuesday morning. Scott said a special session was “something […]

Tag: Medical marijuana
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Image via Florida State Parks.

Are vaping and smoking the same? Ray Rodrigues won’t say

Rick Scott expands special session call to include medical marijuana

Lawmakers agree to tackle medical marijuana during Special Session

John Morgan: I’m still suing the Legislature

Jose Javier Rodriguez: We’re being called back to bless backroom deal

Would it really be so bad if lawmakers didn’t take up pot during special session?

‘Progress’ on getting marijuana in Special Session but ‘no deal’ yet

Special session called to tackle economic programs, public education funding

Medical marijuana push continues for Rob Bradley

Rick Scott says he’s ‘reviewing’ whether to call medical marijuana special session