Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Keith MorelliJune 14, 2016

An update offered by the Florida Department of Health on the approaching availability of medical marijuana was rife with technical and legal language, but really broke no new ground other than to further emphasize the strictness of rules and regulations regarding the use of pot by patients with various medical problems. The main thrust delivered […]

Keith MorelliJune 13, 2016

With half the states in the union already allowing marijuana for medical use, and several others on the verge of passing laws permitting pot to be used for medicinal purposes, a Florida law firm is establishing a foothold in this field, where laws are constantly being tweaked, and regulations governing the burgeoning multi-billion-dollar industry are […]

Keith MorelliJune 10, 2016

Fifty-four-year-old Bridget Kirouac was followed home by Martin County sheriff’s deputies just over two years ago after a visit to Mr. Nice Guy Hydroponics. Deputies raided her home and found about 20 marijuana plants, some cannabis tincture and some harvested pot. She said she needs the marijuana to help get her through days of pain […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 10, 2016

Drug-Free Florida raised more than $500,000 in May, outpacing the committee backing the effort to legalize medical marijuana 5-to-1. State records show Drug-Free Florida raised $500,85 in the one-month fundraising period. Mel Sembler, a prominent St. Petersburg fundraiser, gave the committee $500,000 in May. The substantial donation came just weeks after Sembler announced he once […]

Keith MorelliJune 9, 2016

With five months to go before the matter of expanding the use of medical marijuana is placed before the voters, the two main organizations on either side have begun a news release war, each trying to persuade the electorate their side is right. Florida voters will decide on the fate of Amendment 2 in November. […]

Phil AmmannJune 9, 2016

If Florida passes a constitutional amendment in November to legalize medical marijuana, opponents of the measure say the Sunshine State could soon be swamped with more pot shops than McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and Starbucks combined. That’s the message from a new video — titled “5,000” — produced by the Vote No on 2 campaign, which claims […]

Keith MorelliJune 7, 2016

In December 2014, McCrory’s Sunny Hill Nursery in Eustis, along with Grow Healthy Farms Florida spent nearly $2 million for a 33-acre tract of property on which sat an old Sealy Mattress factory. The plan was to convert the making of pillow tops to pot buds in a massive medical marijuana grow house. But along […]

Peter SchorschJune 3, 2016

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Lawyer-lobbyist Nicole “Nikki” Fried tells FloridaPolitics.com she’s leaving Colodny Fass to form her own South Florida influence shop. The new firm, to be called Igniting Florida, will be based in Fort Lauderdale. Fried now works in Sunrise. Fried, who’s become a go-to person in medical marijuana lobbying, will keep her clients. They include San Felasco […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 27, 2016

The group opposing the medical marijuana constitutional amendment is ramping up its efforts. The VOTE NO on 2 campaign on Friday released the first in a series of advertisements aimed at setting the record straight about what Amendment 2 could mean for Floridians. The 60-second spot — dubbed “Three Things” — shows how California’s medical marijuana […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 24, 2016

A Southwest Florida nursery is asking for an administrative hearing to determine whether it should be awarded a license to grow and distribute medical marijuana. Sun Bulb Company filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing on Friday. The company filed the petition in response to a newly passed law, which attorneys said allows “for […]

Tag: Medical marijuana

Florida Health Department update on medical pot — long on jargon, short on new info

Florida law firm on front line of medical marijuana litigation

Martin County woman faces trial for medical pot prescribed by Maine doctor

Mel Sembler donates $500K to Vote No on 2 campaign in May

Vote No on 2 campaign says medical pot may worsen PTSD, citing Yale study

New anti-pot video claims Amendment 2 allows ‘5,000’ marijuana shops in Florida

Administrative judge says McCrory’s Sunny Hill Nursery not entitled to medical pot license

Personnel note: Nikki Fried to open own firm

Medical marijuana opponents compare Florida proposal to California law in new ad

Sun Bulb Company challenging DOH response to new medical pot law