The legislative landscape regarding marijuana in Florida has witnessed significant changes over recent years. House Bill 291, introduced in 2021, and House Bill 467 from 2022 both aimed to legalize recreational marijuana. These bills proposed to authorize individuals aged 21 and over to engage in activities involving the personal use of marijuana in limited amounts and outlined provisions for the licensure of marijuana establishments. They also set limits on the number of certain marijuana establishments in localities.
Senate Bill 1576 in 2023 continued this trend, focusing on establishing the Division of Cannabis Management under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This bill also authorized persons aged 21 and over to engage in specific actions relating to marijuana, providing guidelines for licensing of marijuana establishments.
Moreover, Chapter 381 Section 986 of the 2021 Florida Statutes addressed the medical use of marijuana, allowing qualified patients and caregivers to purchase marijuana for medical purposes as authorized by physician certification.
Senate Bill 1696 in 2022, titled “Adult Use Marijuana Legalization,” aimed to further refine the regulation of recreational marijuana. It included provisions like prohibiting the use of false identification by persons under 21 years of age for activities related to recreational marijuana and exempting certain activities involving marijuana from specific regulations.
The Florida Board of Medicine, under the authority of 381.986 Florida Statutes, established new practice standards for the certification of smoking marijuana as a route of administration effective July 13, 2021. These standards apply to all physicians authorized to issue a certification for the medical use of marijuana in a form for smoking.
Lastly, Senate Bill 710 in 2021 focused on the Availability of Marijuana for Adult Use. This bill revised the sales tax exemption for the sale of marijuana and marijuana delivery devices to apply only to purchases by qualified patients or caregivers. It also revised provisions related to the licensure and functions of medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs), including prohibiting an MMTC from being a part of a larger association or other legal entity holding a marijuana establishment license within the state.
For more detailed information on each of these legislative developments, you can refer to the following sources:
House Bill 291 (2021)
House Bill 467 (2022)
Senate Bill 1576 (2023)
Chapter 381 Section 986 – 2021 Florida Statutes
Senate Bill 1696 (2022)
Florida Board of Medicine – New Practice Standards
Senate Bill 710 (2021)
