Dara Kam - News Service of Florida

Attorney General James Uthmeier issued the rule in August prohibiting the kratom byproduct alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine, known as 7-OH.

Lawyers for the Smart & Safe Florida committee said they were waiving the right to appeal Leon County Judge John Cooper's ruling “to provide finality to this matter and certainty to the result.”

The ruling wiped out roughly a third of the signatures submitted by the political committee backing the proposed constitutional amendment to allow recreational marijuana.

Attorney General James Uthmeier asked a judge to toss a challenge against an emergency rule filed by companies that sell the kratom byproduct of kratom and users of the substance.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Brittney Brown, who worked for the FWC, alleging that her Sept. 15 firing — five days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed — violated her First Amendment rights.

The compound — available in such products as drinks, gummies and powders — has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years.

Attorneys for the state said the state biologist was fired to “prevent foreseeable disruption, reputational harm and loss of public trust. "

Much of Monday’s arguments centered on “heckler’s veto,” when government officials silence an employee because of fear of a hostile reaction from the public.

Mark Geralds, 58, was found guilty in 1990 of first-degree murder, armed robbery, burglary and grand theft auto. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty.

Patronis, a Republican, served nearly eight years as the state’s chief financial officer before his April election to Congressional District 1.