Florida Republican Senator Refiles Medical Marijuana Homegrow Bill, This Time Without Unrelated Hemp Product Restrictions

A Republican lawmaker in Florida has reintroduced a proposal that might enable medical marijuana sufferers within the state to develop as much as two hashish vegetation at dwelling—this time with out separate provisions he had included in prior laws that might have additionally cracked down on hemp-derived cannabinoids within the state.

Rep. Joe Gruters (R) final month filed a homegrow invoice that might have concurrently banned a variety of hemp-derived cannabinoids and likewise capped delta-9 THC—the chief psychoactive element in marijuana—at 2 milligrams per serving and 20 mg per package deal in hemp merchandise. However he later withdrew that measure, pledging to introduce a homegrow-only invoice “As quickly because it’s prepared.”

The brand new invoice, SB 456, filed on Friday, would enable state-registered hashish sufferers 21 and older to develop as much as two vegetation for private use supplied they first apply for and procure a certificates from the state Division of Agriculture and Client Companies.

The division would wish to determine procedures “for the issuance, renewal, suspension, alternative, give up, and revocation of such certificates, together with guidelines offering for the inspection and registration of every hashish plant.”

Renters would additionally want to offer documentation when making use of to indicate that their landlord consents to hashish being grown on the property.

Additional, cultivation would wish to happen out of public view and “in an enclosed, locked area to forestall entry by unauthorized individuals and individuals youthful than 21 years of age.”

Violation of these limits would represent a first-degree misdemeanor.

As of Friday afternoon, the bill had not but been referred to a legislative committee.

Gruters, a former chair of the Florida Republican Occasion, was a proponent of the backed legalization measure Modification 3 final November—which might not have legalized dwelling cultivation—showing in an advert alongside Sen. Shevrin Jones (D) to argue that the reform could be “good for Florida” regardless of sturdy pushback from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Gruters and Kim Rivers—the CEO of Trulieve, a medical marijuana firm that supplied the majority of funding for Modification 3—additionally met with Trump forward of his endorsement of the constitutional modification, in addition to federal rescheduling and trade banking entry.

Some critics of Modification 3 had complained about its lack of a house cultivation allowance, which they stated would drive customers to make purchases from a small variety of licensed retailers.

A marketing campaign mailer from the state Republican Occasion, as an example, referred to as the marketing campaign “an influence seize by mega marijuana firms, eliminating their competitors and enshrining their monopoly benefit within the Structure eternally.”

—
Marijuana Second is monitoring a whole bunch of hashish, psychedelics and drug coverage payments in state legislatures and Congress this yr. Patreon supporters pledging a minimum of $25/month get entry to our interactive maps, charts and listening to calendar so that they don’t miss any developments.

Study extra about our marijuana invoice tracker and grow to be a supporter on Patreon to get entry.
—

DeSantis, in the meantime, repeatedly complained that legalizing marijuana within the state would result in a rash of public consumption, inflicting the state to odor of hashish. Gruters downplayed that concern but additionally launched a invoice to make sure that smoking in public would stay unlawful.

As for hemp-derived cannabinoids, final yr DeSantis vetoed a invoice that might have banned intoxicating hemp merchandise, which was extensively seen as an effort to enlist the hemp trade in opposing Modification 3.

Simply months after a Florida marijuana legalization initiative failed on the poll, the marketing campaign behind the proposal has filed a revised model in hopes of getting a second shot in 2026.

Good & Secure Florida’s 2024 measure did obtain a majority of the vote in November, however it fell in need of a steep 60 % threshold to move constitutional amendments underneath state regulation.

Individually, lawmakers in Florida this session have additionally launched payments that would defend medical marijuana sufferers from discrimination in authorities jobs and stop state courts from proscribing sure parental rights based mostly solely on an individual’s standing as a professional hashish affected person.