Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 10, 2015

A medical marijuana lobbyist said a half-dozen Florida nurseries that had applied but failed to become growers “are thinking seriously about protesting” the state’s license-award process. Taylor Patrick Biehl told FloridaPolitics.com on Thursday that he and fellow lobbyist Jeff Sharkey had “spoken with seven or eight nurseries and a variety of administrative lawyers about the protest possibilities, […]

Ryan RayNovember 17, 2015

A bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana passed its first committee stop in the Senate on Tuesday, hours after a House panel OK’d a similar bill. Debate focused on eliminating roadblocks to care amid nearly two years of delays since a bill to allow low-THC cannabis derivatives was enacted in 2014. […]

Ryan RayJuly 20, 2015

Patricia “Patti” Nelson, who has led the Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use since its inception in 2014, is leaving the department and joining the Executive Office of the Governor, a DOH spokesman said Monday. “Patricia Nelson will be rejoining the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget,” read a response to an inquiry. “The […]

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 CallApril 22, 2015

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One challenge remains to block planting Florida’s first legal marijuana crop. And the Department of Health has a 5:00 p.m. deadline Wednesday in its effort to defeat it and begin implementing the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Late Tuesday, Judge W. David Watkins dismissed the challenge filed by Master Growers. The order is here. Watkins ruled that Master Growers […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

On Wednesday morning, Sen. Rob Bradley temporarily postponed Senate consideration of SPB 7066, the legislative fix for the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Scheduled for a second reading is the measure addressing concerns believed to be driving legal challenges to a proposed rule for the Act. Meanwhile, the state Department of Health faces 5 […]

James CallMarch 25, 2015

A stack of court documents makes it difficult to see when epileptic children will have access to medicinal cannabis oil to calm the dangerous seizures that wrack their small bodies. Sen. Rob Bradley’s effort to provide growers more opportunities to participate in a nascent medicinal marijuana industry failed to stop more lawsuits from being filed against […]

James CallMarch 25, 2015

A stack of court documents makes it difficult to see when epileptic children will have access to medicinal cannabis oil to calm the dangerous seizures that wrack their small bodies. Sen. Rob Bradley’s effort to provide growers more opportunities to participate in a nascent medicinal marijuana industry failed to stop more lawsuits from being filed against […]

James CallMarch 12, 2015

Today’s chapter of the “4th Floor Files” talks with lobbyist Taylor Patrick Biehl, a fan of both Bruce Springsteen and Abraham Lincoln. Last year, Biehl and Dr. Jeffry Sharkey created the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida. Biehl has been director of governmental affairs for the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, as an associate […]

Tag: Taylor Patrick Biehl

Nurseries gearing up for pot protests, lobbyist says

“Right to Try” expansion bill adding medical marijuana passes Senate panel

Compassionate Use director Patti Nelson leaving DOH

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

Charlotte’s Web challenge dismissed, DOH ordered to respond to last one

Charlotte’s Web “glitch” bill pulled from Senate floor

Charlotte’s Web tangles grow deeper after more challenges filed

Charlotte's Web tangles grow deeper after more challenges filed

4th Floor Files talks with Taylor Patrick Biehl on Springsteen, loyalty and Lincoln