From Congress to cannabis: Carlos Curbelo will push pot in new job

From Congress to cannabis: Carlos Curbelo will push pot in new job

It isn’t enough for former Congressman Carlos Curbelo to be an NBC News political analyst and contributor. Now he wants to make it easier for us to smoke weed. Curbelo is now the new strategic adviser to the Cannabis Trade Federation, a group comprised of cannabis business interests who have come together to advocate for looser pot laws. […]

The Cortadito Calendar for President’s Day week

The Cortadito Calendar for President’s Day week

February is the short month. And it is almost over already. Key word: Almost. Because first, there are a few more poltical events for the Cortadito Calendar: A town hall without an elected, a film screening, a fundraiser, a party to open a shiny new police station, another moratorium on medical marijuana, more talk about […]

Just one ‘No’: A guide to the questions on the Nov. 8 ballot

Just one ‘No’: A guide to the questions on the Nov. 8 ballot

It’s that time of the election cycle again when people start asking me how they should vote on this or that. Almost everyone needs guidance on ballot questions that don’t get as much news coverage as the candidates. Except for the medical marijuana amendment, the second on the ballot, folks are pretty unaware about the […]

Doctors and nurses say vote yes on medical marijuana

Doctors and nurses say vote yes on medical marijuana

Take two. Or is it toke two? It didn’t take long for Service Employees International Union of Florida, the union that represents doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, to announce support of round two for Amendment 2, the measure on this November’s ballot to allow medical marijuana in Florida. On Jan. 27, medical pot made it […]

Toker vote play? Marijuana debate enters local election

Toker vote play? Marijuana debate enters local election

Legalized or medicinal marijuana may be a state issue, but it could play a small, supporting role in some municipal elections in the 305 after local police agencies have suggested fines instead of arrests for possession of a small, personal amount. Last week, the Miami-Dade Police and Miami Beach Police departments suggested fining people found […]

Javi Correoso hopes killing medical pot = presidential job

Javi Correoso hopes killing medical pot = presidential job

“Javierrrr Correosoooo, one-time aide to former Congressman David “Nine Lives” Rivera… you just helped beat the medical marijuana constitutional amendment that everybody originally thought was a sure thing! What are you going to do next?” Disney World? Nope. “I’m going to Iowa,” Correoso told Ladra, referring to the 2016 Republican presidential primary. Correoso was riding […]

Alex Diaz de la Portilla will tell us how we can smoke pot

Alex Diaz de la Portilla will tell us how we can smoke pot

Just because former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla has kept pretty much low key since his blistering loss to State Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez in 2012 doesn’t mean he’s running away to Europe or hiding in a smoke-filled Little Havana Florida Room, plotting something or other. He’s actually writing legislation again. Hallelujah! Diaz de la […]

Medical marijuana opposition reaches out to Hispanic voters

Medical marijuana opposition reaches out to Hispanic voters

Sólo dile que no — a la enmienda. With Florida poised to become the 24th state to legalize medical marijuana, opponents hope Hispanic voters can help them defeat Amendment 2 on the Nov. 4 ballot. And some think that the Cuban vote in Miami can be the buzz kill they need. “Absolutely,” said Javier Correoso, a […]

Poll indicates support is high for Florida medical marijuana

Poll indicates support is high for Florida medical marijuana

By DARA KAMTHE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDATHE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE — Floridians really, really support the legalization of medical marijuana, according to a poll released Monday morning.The poll found that 88 percent of Florida voters approve of medical marijuana, including 83 percent of voters age 65 and older and 95 percent of those between 18 and 29.The support also crosses party […]

State rolls out plan for medical pot farm ‘lottery’

State rolls out plan for medical pot farm ‘lottery’

By DARA KAM of THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, July 2, 2014 — Winners of Florida’s five, highly sought-after medical marijuana licenses could be selected through lotteries, according to a draft rule released late Wednesday by the Department of Health.The 16-page document comes in advance of an agency workshop Monday in Tallahassee that is drawing heavy attention.The draft rule, […]