Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 9, 2017

For the last five years, my big brother, Ben Pollara, has fought to bring medical marijuana treatment to suffering citizens in the state of Florida. He acted as campaign manager for United for Care, which was the chief facilitator of Amendment 2’s passage November, and has since worked tirelessly to craft and pass fair legislation […]

Peter SchorschMay 7, 2017

The headline writers had an easy job Friday night after the Florida Legislature failed to agree on rules to enact the medical marijuana amendment supported by 71 percent of Florida voters last November. “Medical marijuana deal goes up in smoke,” blared the Tallahassee Democrat. “Up in smoke: Legislature can’t agree on medical marijuana,” read The […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2017

Advocates of Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana in Florida, have been expressing disdain for HB 1397, moving through the Legislature this Session, sponsored by Fort Myers Republican Ray Rodrigues. “Folks, this bill is bad,” wrote Ben Pollara, head of United for Care, the organization that campaigned for the constitutional amendment that passed with more than 71 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Because polling in 2016 showed less than half of all Floridians want to legalize marijuana outright, Ray Rodrigues believes he is doing the right thing by pushing regulations that ban people from smoking cannabis or using edible pot. “Here’s what we know,” the Fort Myers House Republican told former Congressman David Jolly on AM 820 WWBA Thursday […]

Joe ReedyFebruary 13, 2017

Three months after Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on medical marijuana, state health officials and prospective pot-seeking patients are at odds over proposed rules that would spell out who could get marijuana. State officials have recommended restrictions on what type of patients can qualify for medical marijuana, and where they can obtain it. […]

Ben PollaraJanuary 12, 2017

I won’t be in Orlando this weekend to vote for the next chair of the Florida Democratic Party. I’m not a state committeeman, so I don’t even have a vote. But I certainly have an opinion on who should lead the political party that I’ve been a member of, and heavily involved with, since I […]

Scott PowersDecember 6, 2016

John Morgan has powerful split emotions about the prospect of running for governor in 2018 as a Democrat, and figures he has at least a year to decide. Morgan, the 60-year-old Orlando trial attorney who championed Florida’s Amendment 2 medical marijuana initiative this year, said others – not he – are pushing for him to run for […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2016

Florida’s bong ban, as toothless as critics say it may be, now is preempted by the recently approved constitutional amendment on medical marijuana. That’s according to Ben Pollara, campaign manager of United for Care. The group has fought for the ballot initiative, which first failed in 2014 before passing this year with 71 percent of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 17, 2016

John Morgan isn’t closing the door on a 2018 gubernatorial bid. Morgan said he has been overwhelmed by calls for him to run for governor in 2018, but said he needs “a lot of time to think about it” before going down that road. “I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support and love this week,” […]

Scott PowersOctober 18, 2016

Face to face, medical marijuana champion John Morgan and Vote No on 2 Policy Director Jessica Spencer did not agree even on the basic facts behind each other’s arguments. In a debate televised on WESH 2 TV in Orlando over Florida Amendment 2, the medical marijuana issue on November’s ballot, Morgan, the Orlando lawyer who chairs […]

Tag: United for Care
Image via AP.

Samantha Pollara: In defense of my big brother Ben Pollara

John Morgan after medical marijuana legislation dies: Ben Pollara ‘f*cked’ the patients

Unless legislation is changed, Joe Redner says he’ll sue over Legislature’s medical marijuana

Ray Rodrigues stance on medical marijuana angers Amendment 2 advocates

Florida officials, voters clash over medical marijuana rules

Ben Pollara: Stephen Bittel only choice to lead Florida Dems out of desolation, irrelevancy

John Morgan torn on possible governor run, and in no hurry

Bong ban doesn’t apply to medical pot, advocate says

For the Governor? John Morgan says he has ‘much to think about’ before making decision

John Morgan, Vote No on 2’s Jessica Spencer dispute each other’s facts on medical marijuana