TALLAHASSEE AIRPORT Tallahassee International Airport has been named the most expensive airport in the nation by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. After analyzing 150 of the largest airports in the country, the study revealed that the average airfare out of Tallahassee is $561.69. This is no surprise to anyone who lives in or travels to the Capital City.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES The Florida Department of Health awarded an additional 22 cannabis licenses, allowing the operation of a medical cannabis dispensary, on December 2nd. A 2023 constitutional amendment that legalized medical marijuana requires expansion of access as patient numbers grow. Currently, there are over 880,000 people authorized to use medical marijuana.
ALZHEIMER’S CENTER GIFT The University of South Florida’s Byrd Alzheimer’s Center has received an anonymous estate gift in the amount of $6.5 million. The gift will be used to fund future research on Alzheimer’s disease at one of the largest stand-alone diagnostic facilities in the world.
VOTE BY MAIL Supervisors of Elections (SOE) throughout Florida opposed legislation passed in 2021 regarding the ability to obtain vote by mail ballots. Voters must now request mail-in ballots every election cycle as opposed to every four years as was the previous requirement. This is especially concerning to election supervisors with upcoming special elections for congressional seats. All voters who wish to continue voting by mail are reminded to contact their local SOE office.