This morning, ABC News aired a report sharing that some Republican lawmakers are looking to expand access to medicinal marijuana and even recreational marijuana. In the last election, nearly 56% of Floridians voted yes to an amendment to make recreational marijuana legal, but it failed to hit Florida's 60% threshold and wasn't enough to pass.
Groups behind the 2024 amendment are planning to try again in 2026 with a new version that addresses some complaints associated with the old one - smoking in public and packaging appealing to children are prohibited - but that is a year and a half away. However, two new proposals have been filed in both the State House and Senate for the 2025 legislative session, which begins on March 4, that would make big changes to the state's medicinal marijuana program, including expanding the eligible medical conditions and allowing patients to grow their own plants. The House bill goes even further - permitting recreational use. It would allow adults age 21 & up to purchase up to 2 ounces of flower or 5 grams of concentrate.
When it comes to the recreational market, the House bill would move away from the vertical integration model, or "seed to sale" model, currently in place for the medical marijuana industry. Companies wanting to get into the recreational market would be able to choose a cultivator, processor, distributer, or retailer's license and cultivators could not hold any additional licenses.
Proponents argue that being able to cultivate marijuana at home or cultivate collaboratively or collectively would help control what goes into the plant and what comes out of the plant. They also say it would allow for more companies to enter the marketplace in specialized parts of the industry, claiming it would be good for innovation, good for entrepreneurialism, and ultimately good for the consumer in price and choices.
Proponents argue that being able to cultivate marijuana at home or cultivate collaboratively or collectively would help control what goes into the plant and what comes out of the plant. They also say it would allow for more companies to enter the marketplace in specialized parts of the industry, claiming it would be good for innovation, good for entrepreneurialism, and ultimately good for the consumer in price and choices.
While Republicans are sponsoring the two measures, it is unclear how much support they have overall.
It is important to stay up to date on this issue so that you are well informed. The following article outlines further information about the new marijuana bills filed for Florida's 2025 legislative session:
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