Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Ryan RayJune 25, 2015

As local governments in Jacksonville, Broward County and Miami-Dade move to relax their rules governing the use and possession of marijuana – amid an ongoing parallel process in which the Department of Health is now accepting licenses to produce low-THC Charlotte’s Web under a 2013 state law – it’s fair to say that business is, […]

James CallMay 8, 2015

The latest challenge to proposed regulations for Florida’s medical marijuana law is in its final stage. Late Thursday, attorneys for the Department of Health and Baywood Nurseries filed proposed final orders with Judge W. David Watkins. The two sides repeated the arguments they made during a hearing last month. Baywood went into greater detail in […]

James CallApril 24, 2015

The battle over the Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law may come down to a snapshot in time. The question before administrative law Judge W. David Watkins is at what point Baywood Nurseries became an affected party with standing to sue and block the state from implementing the Compassionate Medical Marijuana Act of 2014. Put another way, to […]

James CallApril 24, 2015

Patricia Nelson, director of the Florida Office of Compassionate Use, spent most of her Friday morning on the defensive. What kept her busy was justifying the plan to regulate the state’s nascent marijuana industry. For three hours and 10 minutes, attorneys for Baywood Nurseries of Apopka grilled Nelson about licensing requirements to grow marijuana and […]

James CallMarch 20, 2015

Sen. Rob Bradley is preparing to free the Charlotte’s Web law from a bureaucratic swamp of lawsuits, hearings and workshops. He filed a shell bill, which his Regulated Industries Committee will take up Tuesday. SB 7066 states: “The Legislature intends to revise laws relating to low-THC cannabis. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.” The bill’s language […]

James CallMarch 20, 2015

Sen. Rob Bradley is preparing to free the Charlotte’s Web law from a bureaucratic swamp of lawsuits, hearings and workshops. He filed a shell bill, which his Regulated Industries Committee will take up Tuesday. SB 7066 states: “The Legislature intends to revise laws relating to low-THC cannabis. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.” The bill’s language […]

James CallMarch 2, 2015

Marijuana, gambling and a big party were on the state capitol agenda Monday indicating that prohibitionists may find it difficult to be heard during the 2015 Florida Legislative Session. Session begins Tuesday morning at 9:30 when the Florida House of Representatives convenes but the week began with a hearing on a proposed rule for the […]

James CallMarch 2, 2015

Don Clifford’s vision is getting closer to becoming a reality. He leads a group of investors who’ve put up $7 million to build the world’s largest in-door marijuana cultivation facility. Monday he was in Tallahassee for a hearing on a proposed rule for Florida’s Charlotte’s Web law. Regulators and stakeholders have been meeting since August […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 2, 2015

Monday’s Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act hearing proved emotional and contentious, as prospective patients, merchants, and growers issued a litany of complaints regarding holes in the statute, including the claims from medical professionals and parents that the focus of discussion was tilted to the business end and not to providing relief to patients. The greatest fireworks […]

Tag: Patricia Nelson

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

Recent moves in Jacksonville, South Florida herald “exciting times” for medical pot advocates

Final arguments heard in Charlotte’s Web challenge

Charlotte’s Web rule challenge comes down to ‘snapshot in time’

Compassionate Use director grilled 3 hours on Charlotte’s Web rule

Charlotte's Web's unsolved mystery to be investigated Tuesday

Charlotte’s Web’s unsolved mystery to be investigated Tuesday

The Day That Was In Florida Politics – March 2

Delayed medical marijuana draft rule goes through new public hearing

Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act hearing proves contentious