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Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 2, 2017

The House overwhelming approved its version of a medical marijuana implementing bill, setting the bill up for final negotiations with the Senate later this week. The House voted 105-9 to approve a bill (HB 1397) that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. “Understanding the level of pain and the level of need patients […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 2, 2017

After months of discussion, the House appears ready take steps to open up the medical marijuana industry. Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues filed an 82-page, delete all amendment on his medical marijuana implementing bill (HB 1397) early Tuesday morning. The amendment comes just hours before the House is scheduled to vote on the bill. The amendment, […]

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

You may have heard about a man having a grand mal seizure on the Florida Senate floor two weeks ago. That was me. I am a die-hard conservative activist. I support Floridians’ now-constitutional right to access medical marijuana. And I’m a patient. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 13 and like most went through […]

Peter SchorschMay 2, 2017

To be frank, it was a pretty smart move, in retrospect. As competing bills to implement Amendment 2 get bogged down mid-Session, the hot-button flashpoints began: The number of new medical marijuana licensees, as well as the process to award those highly-valued “Willy Wonka” golden tickets. Current license holders have a point: “We invested millions […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 28, 2017

The Florida House began discussions on its medical marijuana implementation bill, teeing it up for a vote early next week. The proposal (HB 1397) was amended Friday to move it closer to the Senate bill (SB 406), but House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, the bill’s sponsor, told members the House continues to be negotiations with the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 26, 2017

The Florida House is moving closer to the Senate’s position when it comes to medical marijuana, but conflicts over several big issues, including the number of licenses, remain in conflict. Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues filed an 86-page, delete-all amendment Wednesday to his medical marijuana implementing bill (HB 1397). The amendment was one of more than […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 25, 2017

A Senate panel cleared its version of the medical marijuana implementing bill, sending it to the floor and setting House and Senate up for negotiations over the two different proposals in the final days of the 2017 Legislative Session. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill (SB 406) that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 24, 2017

A House panel advanced an amended version of the lower chamber’s medical marijuana implementing bill, preparing the bill for a vote by the full House in the coming weeks. But with two weeks left until the scheduled end of the 2017 Legislative Session, the House and Senate continue to be at odds when it comes […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 18, 2017

A medical marijuana bill advanced through a key Senate panel Tuesday, picking up an amendment that would limit the number of retail locations allowed to dispense medical marijuana. The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee approved a bill (SB 406) by Sen. Rob Bradley to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The proposal, […]

Peter SchorschApril 18, 2017

Perhaps they’ve been reading the rash of vitriolic emails and op-eds from Florida for Care, or the equally brutal reporting and editorializing from the Tampa Bay Times this past weekend. Maybe it was the litany of emotional public comment at Tuesday’s hearing. Whatever it was, Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee – led by the […]

Tag: Medical marijuana

House passes medical marijuana implementing bill, sends to Senate

House medical marijuana amendment could quicken pace for new licenses

Michael J. Bowen: For epilepsy, Senate medical marijuana bill is ‘step in right direction’

Medical marijuana: OK, it time to drop caps on dispensaries

House prepares medical marijuana bill for vote

Amendment moves House closer to Senate on medical marijuana, but differences remain

Appropriations Committee sends its medical marijuana bill to Senate floor

House medical marijuana implementing bill headed to the floor

Senate panel OK’s amendment to limit number of retail locations allowed to dispense medical marijuana

House Democrats wake up on weed