Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 2, 2014

On March 31, three legislators representing several ideological stripes attended a forum to discuss medical marijuana. Unfortunately, the one-sided discussion did little more than serve as a platform to promote passage of the issue in the Legislature and on the ballot in November. Democratic strategists hope that this initiative will bring young Dems to the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 19, 2014

There is a new war between the states — in the south. This is not, as some of my southern friends call it, a “war of northern aggression.” This war is between the states and the federal government. Comedian Jon Stewart recently joked that state governments are the “Meth Lab of Democracy.” But sometimes, the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 5, 2014

Reason and emotion are the two drivers of decision-making, so it is not surprising that advocates for and against medical marijuana try to appeal to both the head and the heart. While observing the players on both sides of the debate, I have found people whose position comes from their heart, some from their head, […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 20, 2014

It’s time that we shift the medical and judicial focus regarding marijuana. In 2010 there were 38,329 deaths caused by drug overdose: 22,134 from pharmaceutical drugs, 16,651 from pharmaceutical opioid analgesics and zero from marijuana. This year, three initiatives are moving forward in Florida that can help control the quality, quantity and delivery of a […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 19, 2014

Our elected officials get a plethora of input from phone calls, e-mails and desperate testimony in town halls and committee meetings. But, most likely, the decisions they make are done in those quiet, introspective moments when they process all that they have read and heard. But sometimes, they reach out for guidance from higher authorities. […]

Marc YachtFebruary 13, 2014

Marijuana remains an illegal drug that has criminalized millions of Americans for decades. Our crowded jails are filled with people convicted of selling and using “Mary Jane.” Marijuana physician prescriptions have proven their value in pain management, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and an array of chronic and acute illnesses. Allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 5, 2014

When a politician breaks ranks and looks past the surface of an issue to take a stand that his party might not initially approve, that gets my attention. We live in an age of sound bites and tweets that offer little room for in-depth analysis or thoughtful reflection. Most would rather avoid the fight. State […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 30, 2014

Any closed door can be opened. Such is the case of medical marijuana and the State of Florida. Twenty states have legalized medical marijuana in the past few years, while the conservative Florida Legislature ramped up its war against the drug. It is ironic that Florida is known throughout the country as THE destination for […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 29, 2014

First of two parts. Florida is not known as an early adapter. Perhaps that is why it is one of only 15 states left that have not ratified the ERA after 41 years. But the hard work of several legislators and interested parties outside of Tallahassee are looking to get Florida into a new era […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 19, 2014

Supporters of a medical marijuana initiative had two big reasons to cheer last week. But the real good news might not be what you suspect. The group People United for Care, which is leading the drive to get the medical marijuana question on the November ballot, announced last week that it had collected more than […]

Tag: Medical marijuana
Stephanie Haridopolos. Image via USF.

Barney Bishop: Medical marijuana forum is all smoke and little substance

Gary Stein: The new war between the states and the federal government

Gary Stein: Heroes, zeroes and shills battle in the medical marijuana debate

Gary J. Stein: A medical marijuana bill ‘written in the spirit of the constitutional amendment’

Gary Stein: Some pols are praying for guidance on medical marijuana

Marc Yacht: Politicians must stay out of healthcare management

Rick Outzen: Charlotte’s Web bill: Rep. Gaetz to the rescue

Gary J. Stein: Legislation, a constitutional amendment open door to medical marijuana in Florida

Gary Stein: Key legislators are supporting medical marijuana bill

Andrew Skerritt: Good news for supporters of medical marijuana