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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida regulators struggle to keep up with medical marijuana industry
Florida’s embattled medical marijuana office continues wading through rulemaking—two years after Florida voters approved the system. But the industry is moving faster than regulators ability to govern it, leading to problems. For example, as medical marijuana companies in Florida merge with out-of-state companies, the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use is having to come up with rules to govern ownership transfers. The Office’s Director Christian Bax said, “And so we’re asking for the same information as we would ask another MMTC [Medical Marijuana Treatment Center] applicant."See the full story from WFSU here. Also read more at WJCT.
See also:
» More Floridians turning to medical marijuana
Florida Trend Exclusive
The film industry in Florida: Lights, camera, inaction
There are signs that the entertainment industry is adapting to life without help from state taxpayers. In some cases, local governments have begun their own incentive programs. Miami-Dade County has begun offering $100,000 to productions that spend at least $1 million. Two productions have been approved so far. Full story here.
Is Facebook revolutionizing political advertising in Florida?
Social media is supposed to be the future of political advertising, as people's eyeballs increasingly turn to Facebook and Instagram and away from their televisions. But a new Facebook feature that allows users to search candidates' ads shows how campaigns have wildly different views on how to use the social network. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Good news at the gas station just in time for Florida road trip season
Gas prices have dropped to $2.80 in Florida, six cents down from last week. After having declined 11 cents in 16 consecutive days since peaking at $2.92 on May 25, Florida gas prices could continue to drop if the market doesn't shift course. See AAA's Gas Price Brief, here. Also read more at the Miami Herald.
Legal hotline for hurricane victims to close
Floridians who were affected by Hurricane Irma and need legal advice have until the end of the week to call a free hotline. The toll-free hotline refers callers to lawyers from the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. [Source: WUSF]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Experience Kissimmee raises over $13,000 for Special Olympics Florida
Experience Kissimmee recently presented Special Olympics Florida—Osceola County a donation of $13,500. The donation was privately raised through the second Kissimmee Cares Golf Classic in May. The event was hosted May 9 by Experience Kissimmee Cares, the organization’s community relations initiative, at the Celebration Golf Club.
› Fort Myers Beach businesses looking forward to new ‘Margaritaville’ resort
Fort Myers Beach is preparing to be the next “Margaritaville”, as the well-known resort comes to the island. Businesses on land and on the water are buzzing over the news.
› Army Corps to put another $32.4 million into St. Johns River deepening
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will spend $32.4 million from its 2018 fiscal year budget to continue deepening the St. Johns River, according to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. The money will continue the river deepening project for bigger cargo container ships.
› Florida marijuana company eyes Maine for cultivation site
A Florida-based company is seeking a federal permit to build a facility in Maine to cultivate marijuana used for government research. Maridose LLC and 26 other companies have applied with the Drug Enforcement Administration to grow cannabis.
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