The Rotation

Suncoast NORML

Legalize it

  1. 6d ago

    Beyond the High: The Power of Cannabis Patient Education

    Marc Matoza Jumps in the Rotation. Award winning host of Medical Marijuana Awarness Webinars. Cannabis patient education goes beyond the high—it starts with better questions, reliable information, and informed decisions. Join The Rotation on Sunday, October 4, at 11 a.m. for “Beyond the High: The Power of Cannabis Patient Education” with Marc Matoza, a Central Florida medical marijuana practitioner, advocate, and founder of the MMT education website. With a background in technology and business development, Marc has helped bring nearly 150 Medical Marijuana Awareness Seminars to communities across Florida and expanded that work through webinars. We’ll explore what he’s learned from patients and healthcare experts, why education matters, and how to bridge the gap between access to cannabis and understanding it. Marc is a medical marijuana practitioner and advocate based in Central Florida. In addition to founding the MMT education website, Matoza has been instrumental in bringing nearly 150 Medical Marijuana Awareness Seminars to communities around the state as well as transitioning the program to webinar format as host and key coordinator. He values these opportunities to be involved with affected individuals and organizations so that he can learn firsthand what patients and healthcare experts prioritize. Marc Matoza had his start in technology and business development. A graduate from California Polytechnic State University, Matoza was an essential part of teams behind in building the first database management systems on a 16 bit computer, electronic dictionaries & digital bi-lingual references, numerous customer applications including Netscape Communications, and digital golf swing analysis software.

    Beyond the High: The Power of Cannabis Patient Education
  2. Sep 28

    Thinking About Getting into the Cannabis Industry? Learn What it Takes!

    Thinking about getting into the cannabis industry? The first question might be: where do you even start? Sally Kent Peebles, J.D. talks about what it takes to build a cannabis business and navigate the laws around it. Sally is a partner at Vicente LLP’s Florida office. She works with clients on cannabis regulations, business transactions, real estate, and license acquisitions across multiple states. She’ll bring a practical perspective to a conversation for anyone curious about the industry. Join us for a discussion about the opportunities, the obstacles, and what aspiring operators should understand before making their next move. #TheRotation #SuncoastNORML #CannabisIndustry #CannabisBusiness Sally Kent Peebles is a partner in Vicente LLP’s Florida office, where she focuses her practice on corporate law, commercial real estate, and regulatory matters. She helps clients navigate the patchwork of state laws controlling marijuana, and continues to successfully handle numerous cannabis business license acquisitions for clients in Florida, Colorado, and Oregon. Sally is a leading voice on cannabis law and policy in Florida. She previously served on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee, which provided advice and recommendations to the department regarding policies and guidance on medical cannabis issues and patient needs and concerns. In 2021, Sally co-founded the nonprofit organization, WISE Florida, which aimed to build support for legalizing and regulating cannabis for adult use in Florida. She has been recognized by her peers in the Super Lawyers list since 2020 and in The Best Lawyers in America® list since 2022. Prior to joining Vicente LLP, Sally drafted oil and gas title opinions and performed due diligence for acquisition and divestiture transactions at a Denver law firm focused on natural resources and energy. Before law school, Sally was a publicist and booking agent for music entertainment artists in California and Colorado.

    Thinking About Getting into the Cannabis Industry? Learn What it Takes!
  3. Sep 14

    Fired for Legal Medical Cannabis: Dr. Neil Manimala Responds: Jump Into the Rotation

    Can Hillsborough County employees lose their jobs despite being lawful medical cannabis patients? Dr. Neil Manimala joins The Rotation to discuss cannabis employment policies, patient protections and what county government can do differently. Dr. Manimala is a Hillsborough County physician and Democratic nominee for County Commission, At-Large District 5. The entire county votes in this race on November 3. Dr. Neil Manimala is a physician and surgeon, a lifelong Hillsborough County resident, and the Democratic nominee for Hillsborough County Commission, At-Large District 5. It is a countywide seat, which means every voter in Hillsborough County, including the city of Tampa, votes in this race on November 3. A proud USF graduate for both college and medical school, Neil practices as a urologist in communities across the county, from Plant City to Brandon to South County. He is the 123rd President of the Hillsborough County Medical Association, where he serves as the voice of physicians across our county, and he has served on the county’s Health Care Advisory Board, which oversees our local healthcare safety net. He is running to build a county that is more affordable, healthier, and less congested. Neil is honored to be endorsed by many leaders and groups, including Congresswoman Kathy Castor, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, the West Central Florida Labor Council of the AFL-CIO, Florida Rising, and the SPLC Action Fund. He and his wife, Rachel, are parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and live with their daughter Mariam and rescue dog Benji.

    Fired for Legal Medical Cannabis: Dr. Neil Manimala Responds: Jump Into the Rotation
  4. Aug 3

    Robin Lockett for FL House (D-63) and Elijah Manley for US Congress (FL-20) Jump in the Rotation

    Robin Lockett - Candidate for Florida House District 63 **Elijah Manley - Candidate for U.S. Congress (FL-20)** Robin Lockett is a lifelong advocate for education, civic engagement, and community empowerment who believes knowledge is the foundation of meaningful change. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to ensuring residents have the information and resources needed to make informed decisions about the issues affecting their communities. As Regional Director for FAIR Districts, Lockett helped lead efforts to pass a constitutional amendment aimed at ending partisan gerrymandering and creating fairer legislative representation throughout Florida. She later served as Regional Director for NextGen Climate, where she worked to increase climate awareness within the Black community while encouraging conversations around sustainability and environmental justice. As former Political Chair of the NAACP, Lockett organized political forums, led voter registration drives, and educated residents about civic participation, helping strengthen voter engagement across the region. She also served as President of the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus, leading efforts to recruit, endorse, and elect qualified Black Democratic candidates while expanding voter outreach and developing future community leaders. Beyond politics, Lockett has served on the boards of the Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP) and the Zion Cemetery Preservation Board, supporting initiatives focused on community development and historic preservation. Today, she serves as Regional Director for Florida Rising's Tampa Bay Region, where she works alongside residents to organize around local issues, expand civic participation, and build stronger communities through education and advocacy. Robin Lockett's career reflects a steadfast commitment to empowering others, strengthening democracy, and creating opportunities for every voice to be heard. --- Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale's historic Sistrunk community, Elijah Manley understands the challenges many South Florida families continue to face. Raised by a hardworking single mother, he experienced homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty firsthand, giving him a deep understanding of the struggles working families encounter every day. Rather than allowing hardship to define him, Manley began a small landscaping business as a teenager to help support his family and pay for school expenses. Inspired by President Barack Obama's election at age nine, he became active in public service early, writing elected officials, speaking at local government meetings, and advocating for his community. At Fort Lauderdale High School, he participated in the criminal justice and law magnet program, joined Navy JROTC, and completed hundreds of hours of community service. Following the Parkland school shooting, Manley launched his first campaign for the Broward County School Board at just 19 years old, earning more than 43,000 votes and becoming an active voice in the March for Our Lives movement. He later ran for the Florida House, building broad grassroots support throughout his district. Today, Elijah Manley is running for Congress to advocate for affordable housing, economic opportunity, higher wages, and policies that support working families. Drawing on his own lived experiences, he says his campaign is rooted in the belief that government should work for everyday people and create opportunities for communities that have too often been left behind.

    Robin Lockett for FL House (D-63) and Elijah Manley for US Congress (FL-20) Jump in the Rotation

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