Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMarch 14, 2017

The University of Florida would get about $2.5 million to study the effectiveness of medical marijuana under a bill that cleared the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. HB 3159 by Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle is aimed at the compassionate use bill lawmakers approved in 2014, which legalized low-THC, high-cannabidiol marijuana for the […]

Scott PowersMarch 6, 2017

A new bill introduced Monday to enact Florida’s medical marijuana program is being sharply criticized by promoters of Amendment 2 for keeping the budding business restricted to the state’s current seven approved producers. Senate Bill 1758, introduced by state Sen. Denise Grimsley, the Republican from Lake Wales, lays out how Florida should manage and regulate […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

As at least one key lawmaker pushes to open Florida’s coming medical marijuana industry to a free market and the current seven licensed companies fight to keep it tight, a new advocacy group is emerging saying it wants to help develop a middle ground. Smart Medicine For Florida will be pushing for regulations that would assure quality, safety, […]

Joe ReedyFebruary 13, 2017

Three months after Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on medical marijuana, state health officials and prospective pot-seeking patients are at odds over proposed rules that would spell out who could get marijuana. State officials have recommended restrictions on what type of patients can qualify for medical marijuana, and where they can obtain it. […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 1, 2017

The Tampa Bay Times is just plain wrong about something, and it has stuck in my craw for nearly a week now. Last Thursday, a Times headline read: “Voter intent on medical marijuana ignored.” Two days later, columnist John Romano followed suit with virtually the same narrative. “Ignored?” The clear inference of the editorial – […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 30, 2017

A South Florida medical marijuana dispensing organization is thinking ahead, entering into a strategic partnership to help plan for future growth. Modern Health Concepts, a South Florida-based medical cannabis provider, announced last week that shareholders successfully formed a strategic partnership with PalliaTech Inc. Created in 2010, the Massachusetts-based company began as a medical device company […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 24, 2017

Trulieve is expanding into Tampa. The medical marijuana dispensing organization announced Tuesday it will open its third dispensary Thursday in Tampa. The company currently has dispensaries in Tallahassee and Clearwater. “This is an exciting start to the new year for Trulieve and the patients we serve,” said Kim Rivers, the company’s CEO in a statement. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 23, 2017

Drug Free America is urging Florida lawmakers to “proceed with caution” as they begin crafting legislation to implement the state’s newest medical marijuana law. “While we were opposed to Amendment 2 for a number of specific reasons, we recognize Florida voters have spoken,” said Calvina Fay, the executive director of Drug Free America, in a statement. “We also […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2017

A bill filed Thursday in the Florida Senate, if passed, would expand the medical marijuana system in the Sunshine State, complying with 2016’s Amendment 2. However, some critics — inside the Senate and outside as well — have raised concerns, suggesting the bill will not have the smoothest glide path. Senate Bill 406, filed by […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 17, 2017

More patients might be eligible for medical marijuana under Amendment 2, but a preliminary draft of new rules doesn’t appear to allow for immediate growth in the industry to meet demand. On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health released the preliminary text of proposed rule development. The release comes ahead of five public hearings schedule […]

Tag: Medical marijuana

House bill advances to give University of Florida $2.5M for medical marijuana study

Senate medical marijuana bill keeps industry restricted to seven distributors

New group seeks to steer medical marijuana between control, free market

Florida officials, voters clash over medical marijuana rules

Saying voter intent ‘ignored’ on medical marijuana, Tampa Bay Times is just plain wrong

Modern Health Concepts, PalliaTech team up as Florida’s medical pot industry grows

Trulieve to open medical marijuana dispensary in Tampa

Drug Free America urges caution as lawmakers discuss Amendment 2 implementation

Amendment 2 implementation bill filed in Florida Senate

DOH begins Amendment 2 rule-making