Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2017

A Florida nursery is suing the state over its preference in granting medical marijuana licenses to companies with underused or shuttered citrus factories. Tropiflora LLC of Sarasota filed suit against the Department of Health‘s Office of Compassionate Use—now the Office of Medical Marijuana Use—in Leon County Circuit Civil court on Friday, court records show. The […]

Peter SchorschApril 5, 2017

The Senate, with the revised version of SB 406, appears to be on what is a fairly balanced means of implementing Amendment 2. Is that my opinion? Maybe. But, as of yesterday, even the intrepid Ben Pollara sent an email saying (and I quote), “The Senate bill puts Patients First…” while most parties in attendance […]

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 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 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 11, 2017

The Florida House will push to make medical marijuana tax exempt, according the sponsor of the yet-to-be filed bill implementing Amendment 2. While lawmakers are in the early stages of drafting an implementing bill, House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues said the House does not plan to include a tax on medical marijuana in its proposal. […]

Associated PressJanuary 2, 2017

Dr. Joseph Dorn has had a unique vantage point when it comes to the burgeoning medical marijuana industry in Florida. Dorn was the medical director of Surterra Therapeutics, which is one of the six dispensing organizations licensed to grow and distribute medical cannabis in the state. He resigned from that position two months ago and […]

Scott PowersMay 23, 2016

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Central Florida’s licensed producer and distributor of medical marijuana products received conditional state permission to start growing cannabis at its Winter Garden greenhouses. Knox Nursery received its cultivation authorization from the Florida Department of Health on May 13, making it the fourth of six licensed medical marijuana companies to get permission to plant seeds. The […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 8, 2016

The Florida Department of Health is beginning to develop rules for issuing registration cards for medical marijuana patients. The Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use is expected to begin the process of establishing a system for issuing registration cards for medical marijuana patients and their legal representatives. It is also expected to establish fees […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2015

Two lawmakers – one Republican, one Democrat – expressed frustration Tuesday over the state Health Department’s delay in putting Florida’s lone medical marijuana law into action. In 2014, the state legalized low-THC, or “non-euphoric,” marijuana to help children with severe seizures and muscle spasms. The department is charged with setting up a system to make sure […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 25, 2015

One of three state government officials tapped to dole out licenses for low-THC marijuana in Florida has stepped down. Last month, the Florida Department of Health on Friday announced the members of the “substantive review panel” within the Office of Compassionate Use. Florida legalized low-THC, or “non-euphoric,” marijuana last year to help children with severe muscle […]

Tag: Office of Compassionate Use
A nice warm evening in Tallahassee on a very busy street while taking this shot.

Orange you mad? Citrus language leads to marijuana lawsuit

Is the Senate on the right path on medical marijuana?

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

DOH begins Amendment 2 rule-making

Ray Rodrigues: House bill won’t include tax on medical marijuana

What to know as Amendment 2 goes into effect on Tuesday

Knox Nursery gets state permission to start growing pot

DOH to start on rules for medical pot ID cards

Lawmakers irked over delays in medical pot law

State worker leaves pot panel, CPA license was ‘inactive’