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Jim RosicaJune 6, 2017

Sen. Jack Latvala is telling fellow senators that funding bills planned for this week’s Special Session will be subject to the state’s constitutionally-mandated “cooling off” period. That potentially means, if the bills are changed, that lawmakers could be stuck in Tallahassee past Friday, when the session is scheduled to end. The Clearwater Republican, who chairs […]

Jim RosicaJune 6, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron, in advance of the Legislature’s 3-day Special Session this week, told members in a Tuesday memo he expects “a proposal to override the veto of some university and higher education funding.” The Stuart Republican also left the door open for medical marijuana implementation to be added to the call, saying he […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

Legislative leaders working behind the scenes are getting closer to putting medical cannabis implementation into the call of this week’s Special Session. For instance, one senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “some progress” had been made but there was “no deal” as of Monday afternoon. When this week’s Wednesday-Friday Special Session was announced last Friday, […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott talked about education and tourism funding and job training in the upcoming Special Session but did not mention medical marijuana. Scott spoke briefly with reporters outside an Enterprise Florida meeting in Tallahassee Friday, a few hours after he appeared with legislative leaders in Miami to announce a Special Session next Wednesday-Friday. “I’ve been talking […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Florida Democrats are hitting Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leadership over a budget deal announced Friday. In a statement, Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said the budget deal fails the state’s working families, while funneling money to Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. “Not only does this budget deal funnel millions to private for-profit charter […]

Peter SchorschMay 31, 2017

Summer is here — well, unofficially at least. And with it comes cookouts, summer vacations, and the start of the 2018 election cycle (again, unofficially). With a tumultuous legislative session in our rearview mirror and a jam-packed election cycle on the horizon, the answers to these 14 questions (plus a fill-in-the-blank) could shape the future of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 30, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott did not close the door entirely on a special session on medical marijuana, telling reporters his office was reviewing his options. “I know there’s a lot of people involved and interested in the issue,” said Scott, following a stop in Fort Myers on Tuesday morning. Scott said a special session was “something […]

Staff ReportsMay 22, 2017

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The Drug Free America Foundation is adding its voice to those calling for a Special Session on Medical Marijuana Implementation, according to a Monday press release. “It is critical that our leaders call a special session to complete the unfinished business of implementing Amendment 2,” said Calvina Fay, executive director of the Foundation. “Moreover, it is short-sighted to […]

Scott PowersMay 18, 2017

Saying that the current limbo of law is bad for doctors and patients, Democratic state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado pleaded with Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Legislature leaders to call a special session to deal with medical marijuana. “We are here because 71 percent of Florida voters approved the constitutional right to […]

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron has yet to decide to join House Speaker Richard Corcoran in calling for a Special Session on medical marijuana implementation, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Negron, a Stuart Republican, is still “in the process of having discussions with senators in response to the memorandum he sent last Thursday,” Katie Betta said in […]

Tag: special session

Jack Latvala: ‘Cooling-off’ period applies to Special Session bills

Joe Negron: Senate will consider veto overrides

‘Progress’ on getting marijuana in Special Session but ‘no deal’ yet

Rick Scott talks budget, jobs—but not medical marijuana

Florida Democrats accuses Rick Scott of ‘backroom politics at its worst’ over special session

15 big questions facing Florida politics heading into summer

Rick Scott says he’s ‘reviewing’ whether to call medical marijuana special session

Drug Free America Foundation wants marijuana Special Session

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Amy Mercado say special session needed to end cannabis legal limbo

Still no decision from Joe Negron on marijuana Special Session