Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2018

The state constitution “creates a procedural right to seek treatment with smokable marijuana,” according to a new filing in an appeal by patients seeking to light up medicinal cannabis. Attorney Jon Mills filed a 48-page answer brief late Thursday, in response to the state’s 57-page brief last month arguing that the smoking of medical marijuana […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 13, 2018

marijuana-dispensaries-Tallahassee-3-e1536808123442.jpg

A Canadian mining concern this week said it had finalized a deal to merge with Trulieve, a Florida medical marijuana provider. Toronto-based Schyan Exploration Inc. will combine with Trulieve Inc. to become Trulieve Cannabis Corp. It will trade stock publicly in Canada. The agreement was announced Tuesday. The closing date for the transaction is expected […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 8, 2018

MedMen Enterprises Inc. of Los Angeles, the country’s biggest medical marijuana provider, on Friday said it had closed a deal to buy a medical marijuana treatment center license and “related assets” from Central Florida’s Treadwell Nursery. The $53 million deal, first announced in June, includes “prime retail locations with long term leases in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, West Palm Beach, […]

Danny McAuliffeSeptember 5, 2018

Award-winning, cannabis-infused eats could be coming soon to medical marijuana patients in Florida. Trulieve, a Quincy-based medical marijuana provider, announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with Bhang, which boasts the “most-awarded line of cannabis chocolate bars on the planet,” according to the company. “We continue to look for partnerships that will benefit our patients […]

Jim RosicaAugust 21, 2018

A special panel of lawmakers continues to demand answers from medical marijuana regulators, according to a new letter obtained Tuesday through a public record request. Among the latest queries from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC): The identities of “subject matter experts” that the Department of Health plans to use to evaluate license applications, and whether a rule governing […]

Jim RosicaAugust 13, 2018

As it defends a slew of cases over medical marijuana, the state of Florida has spent close to $2 million on outside lawyers. Nearly all of that went to one firm. Records reviewed last week show at least $1.9 million approved by the Department of Health (DOH) going to two law firms — mostly Vezina, Lawrence & Piscitelli, […]

Jim RosicaAugust 7, 2018

Despite a Tallahassee judge declaring significant parts of the state’s medical marijuana law unconstitutional, the law’s chief architect on Tuesday said he was confident the law would be affirmed. “The trial court ruling injected unnecessary uncertainty into the emerging medical marijuana marketplace,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican. “I’m confident that our appellate courts will […]

Jim RosicaAugust 6, 2018

A Tallahassee judge eviscerated the state law on medical marijuana, declaring major provisions to be unconstitutional. The ruling came in a challenge brought by Florigrown, which had been denied a chance to become a “medical marijuana treatment center” (MMTC), or provider. The company is partly owned by Tampa strip club mogul and free speech advocate Joe Redner. […]

Jim RosicaJuly 30, 2018

Updated 1:30 p.m. — Toronto-based Scythian Biosciences Corp. announced on Monday it was buying Cannabis Cures Investments (see below) and renaming itself Sol Global Investments Corp., with that deal expected to close Oct. 15, pending regulatory approval. A press release is here. The original post from earlier Monday is below. __ As the state gets ready to license more providers, another […]

Jim RosicaJuly 27, 2018

Christian Bax, director of Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), has stepped down after a controversial three-year tenure that frustrated patients, angered lawmakers, and witnessed an explosion in litigation. His resignation is effective Aug. 10. Deputy director Courtney Coppola will serve as interim director, Department of Health spokesman Devin Galleta said Friday. Bax’s resignation letter, released […]

Tag: Office of Medical Marijuana Use

Marijuana smoking ban case smolders in appellate court

More marijuana dealmaking: Trulieve merging with Canadian company

Done deal: Medical marijuana’s MedMen closes on Florida acquisition

Trulieve forms partnership to bring medical marijuana edibles to Florida

‘Please explain’: Legislative panel again questions marijuana regulators

State has spent $2M on legal bills for medical marijuana

Rob Bradley says medical marijuana law will be upheld

Judge declares parts of medical marijuana law unconstitutional

More money flowing into Florida’s medical marijuana market

Christian Bax quits as state’s top medical marijuana regulator

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.