On April 15, the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously to advance H555 to the full House of Representatives. The committee heavily amended the original version of this legislation first. The amended bill would make a medical card valid for two years instead of the current one year. It would also waive registration fees for honorably discharged veterans.

If you live in Florida, ask your legislators to support H555!

While several cannabis policy reforms have been proposed this legislative session in Florida, so far no other bills have advanced. It's disappointing lawmakers are failing to honor the will of most voters, just months after 56% of voters voted YES on Amendment 3, which would have legalized cannabis for adults had it reached 60%.

Meanwhile, Smart and Safe Florida has begun to gather signatures for a potential ballot initiative to legalize cannabis in 2026. With the legislature appearing to be moving on legislation to significantly limit access to consumable hemp products and failing to advance significant cannabis policy reforms, citizens may need to take cannabis policy into their own hands through the ballot initiative process.

Stay tuned for more updates as this legislative session continues. The session ends on May 2. 

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A solid majority of Florida voters — 55.9% — cast their ballots for cannabis legalization in November. While this wasn't enough to pass Amendment 3, it shows most Floridians support ending cannabis prohibition.

If you live in Florida, ask your state legislators to turn the people's will into law and legalize cannabis!

Much opposition to legalization focused on Amendment 3's supposed lack of guardrails on public consumption and the absence of home-grow. A Republican-sponsored legalization bill — H0555 — would address both concerns.

Florida remains one of the 19 states where a single joint can land you in jail. It's past time Florida ended its archaic approach to cannabis policy.

H0555, sponsored by Rep. Alex Andrade, would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of cannabis, while prohibiting marijuana use in any public place. Adults 21 and older could cultivate two plants at home and out of public view for personal use. It also expands the existing medical cannabis program by increasing the possession limit, waiving fees for honorably discharged veterans, and allowing any patient with a condition that requires an opioid prescription to be recommended medical marijuana for relief.

There are also two other legalization bills — H1501 and S1390 — which include similar frameworks for legalization without home cultivation.

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Florida has the opportunity this legislative session to stop destroying lives over old cannabis possession charges. This is a much-needed step in the right direction for Florida to stop closing the door of opportunity for people who have already served time, and/or have paid the fine for their past minor charges.

If you live in Florida, take action now and tell legislators you want to see expungement for Floridian's minor cannabis charges!

Senate Bill 1026 would allow individuals to have their records expunged for possessing two ounces or less. It would also require the Department of Law Enforcement to notify those eligible for expungement without charging a fee. If passed, the law would be set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, S1028 provides a comprehensive framework for the handling of cannabis expungements. It would make records of past convictions confidential.

A cannabis conviction can haunt a person for the rest of their life. It can disqualify a person for jobs, housing, educational loans, security clearances, and professional licenses. This stymies a person's ability to better themselves. The consequences simply do not match the severity of the violation. Ruining lives over cannabis is particularly outrageous given that most Florida voters want it to be legal.

The inequitable nature of enforcement of cannabis prohibition, highlighted in our 2022 report, reinforces the need to give people the opportunity to clear their criminal record and continue a productive life. These pieces of legislation, if enacted, would achieve this goal.

Florida is the Sunshine State and these bills will create the best disinfectant to the stain that a cannabis charge can leave on a person's record.

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The Florida Legislature has convened in Tallahassee. This is the first legislative session since almost 56% of voters voted YES on Amendment 3, which would have legalized the adult use of cannabis. The amendment may have fallen short (this time!), but this is a great opportunity to improve the medical cannabis program for over 900,000 patients.

Opponents of the legalization amendment criticized it for not including home cultivation. Now lawmakers have a chance to address that issue. Sen. Joe Gruters' S0564 would allow medical patients to grow up to two cannabis plants. Another bill that Sen. Gruters (R) sponsors, S0552, would improve the medical program in many ways, including allowing doctors to use telemedicine and allowing patients currently being prescribed opiates to utilize the program. It also allows a recommendation to be good for two years, waives fees for honorably discharged veterans, and increases product allotment for patients.

If you live in Florida, ask your legislators to support expanding the medical cannabis program!

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Most of the results of the 2024 elections are in, and while a large majority of Americans support legalization, cannabis policy reform ballot initiatives received mixed results across the country.

In Nebraska, voters overwhelmingly approved companion medical cannabis ballot measures — Measure 437 and 438! Both measures received more than two-thirds majority. Nebraska is now the 39th state to legalize medical cannabis. However, prohibitionists filed suit to try to block the will of the voters from taking effect. A trial is underway and relief remains uncertain.

2024 marked the third attempt to take medical cannabis to the ballot in Nebraska. In 2020, advocates collected enough signatures to put a constitutional medical cannabis initiative on the ballot. Just three months before Election Day, the state Supreme Court issued a deeply flawed court ruling that prevented voters from deciding the issue. In 2022, families tried again. The 2022 effort, which was largely volunteer, came just a few thousand signatures away from meeting the required threshold to qualify. 

In Texas, there were local measures to decriminalize cannabis in Dallas, Bastrop, and Lockhart, all of which passed. Meanwhile, voters in over 100 counties and cities in Kentucky passed local measures to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in their jurisdiction. 

Three states had measures that would have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over on the ballot. Unfortunately, these measures came up short. 

In Florida, just shy of six million Floridians voted in favor of Amendment 3, which would have ended cannabis prohibition in the Sunshine State. But after receiving 55.9% of the votes cast, it was short of the 60% needed for passage. The legislature continues to have the authority to improve cannabis policies, including incremental steps, such as decriminalization and/or allowing homegrow for medical patients. However, so far it has shown no appetite to do so.

Adult-use cannabis legalization also fell shy of passage in South Dakota. This comes after a long and hard-fought battle by South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, on a shoestring budget. MPP was proud to have its own Matthew Schweich serve as the leader and spokesperson on the ground in South Dakota.

South Dakota voters had approved an MPP-backed legalization measure in 2020, only to have the state Supreme Court outrageously throw out the measure based on a “single subject” ruling. That forced 2024’s Measure 29 to be extremely simple, and to lack many features of other legalization laws that can help build popular support. It simply included legal possession and cultivation, without any regulated sales or taxation.

In North Dakota, voters rejected Measure 5, a legalization ballot measure that would have allowed adults 21 and older to use cannabis at home without punishment – while also allowing possession of limited amounts of cannabis.

While these defeats are a major disappointment, several other states where voters ultimately legalized cannabis saw defeats before success, including Colorado, California, Alaska, Oregon, and Nevada.

With the mixed results of this election, it’s important to take stock of how far we’ve come. Twenty-four states have legalized cannabis for adults since 2012 — and six of those states have been added to the list in just the past two years. Support for cannabis policy reform has sky-rocketed over the last decade, with 68% of Americans now in favor of legalization. Additionally, both major party presidential candidates prominently featured the issue of legalization in their campaigns in an unprecedented manner this election season, and while Florida didn’t cross the 60% threshold needed for passage, it was the first time a majority of voters in a Southern state voted to legalize cannabis. 

Our movement continues to advance with each election cycle, and we won’t stop fighting to end cannabis prohibition in every corner of the country.

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Today, in a 5-2 ruling, the Florida State Supreme Court has allowed the legalization ballot initiative to appear on the November 2024 ballot. The initiative, which needs 60% of votes, is being spearheaded by Smart and Safe Florida.

If approved, it will amend the state constitution and:

• allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis flower, five grams of concentrate, and cannabis paraphernalia; 
• allow current medical dispensaries to sell to adult-use customers;
• goes into effect six months after approval; and
• allow the legislature to add more licenses for cultivation and to otherwise pass additional legislation that affects the adult-use market.

The initiative does not include expungement or home grow, which most likely would have caused it to be rejected by the Supreme Court based upon the “single-subject” rule. However, it is the best opportunity to end cannabis prohibition in the Sunshine State.

Though Florida does not report arrest data to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, the ACLU, working with the Miami Times, found that over 42,000 Floridians were arrested for misdemeanor (under 20 grams) possession in 2017. Over 50% of those arrested were Black individuals, even though they make up only 17% of the population. Under current law, a person can spend up to a year in prison and be fined up to $1,000 for misdemeanor possession of cannabis. Even without jail time, a criminal record can serve as an economic life sentence, making it hard to get employment and housing.

Cannabis policy in the Sunshine State is now in the hands of you, the Florida voter, to decide in November. You can register to vote here. 

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The cannabis legalization movement took major strides forward in 2023, with three more states legalizing adult-use cannabis and one more approving medical cannabis. Now we have our sights set on more promising cannabis policy reform opportunities in the months ahead. Lots of state legislatures are reconvening, and with hundreds of thousands of people still being arrested for cannabis every year, we need to stand up and double down on our mission to end cannabis prohibition nationwide. If we’re able to gather the necessary resources to sustain robust advocacy efforts, these are some of the key states where we have the best shot to secure more victories in 2024!

On the legalization front, there are several states that are on our radar. Efforts to legalize adult-use cannabis are underway in Hawaii, New Hampshire, Florida, and South Dakota. In South Dakota, activists are hopeful to make another attempt at legalizing cannabis for adult use via the 2024 ballot. In Florida, signatures have been submitted to place the question of adult-use legalization on the 2024 ballot, although the initiative is tied up in court. Meanwhile, we are engaged in a legislative push for cannabis legalization in Hawaii and New Hampshire, two states that have become islands of prohibition in recent years as surrounding states have successfully legalized cannabis. Activists are also laying the groundwork in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, which are all possible prospects, but will likely be a multi-year effort.

There are also a handful of states that are poised to make progress regarding medical cannabis legalization. In South Carolina, a medical cannabis legalization bill will start where it left off in 2023, awaiting a Senate floor vote. Similarly, a medical cannabis bill in North Carolina will pick up in 2024 where it left off — awaiting action by the House of Representatives. In Wisconsin, Republican legislative leaders suggested they may move on medical cannabis this year, but action has been slow to materialize. In Nebraska, patient advocates and community leaders are regrouping after a series of setbacks in recent years and charging ahead with another effort to let voters decide the fate of medical cannabis on the 2024 ballot.

The MPP team has the experience and policy knowledge to help get these efforts across the finish line, but we’re counting on your support to keep driving our movement forward. Chip in today to sustain our work to change laws and change lives state by state!

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Ask your state senator to oppose changes to Florida’s democracy!

Alarming news! Tomorrow at 1:30 p.m., the Florida Senate Rules Committee will hear SJR 1412. If enacted, SJR 1412 would severely limit the rights of citizens to participate in democracy through the ballot initiative process! If the proposal becomes law, it will prevent a ballot measure on cannabis legalization.

SJR 1412 proposes a constitutional amendment limiting the scope of future citizen initiatives to only government structure or procedural subjects, effectively ending the citizen initiative process in Florida. Ballot initiatives are typically a last resort policy option when lawmakers refuse to act on the will of the people. Floridians were only able to obtain medical cannabis access through the ballot initiative process in 2016.  And direct democracy is Florida’s best hope for adult-use cannabis legalization, given the legislature’s inaction.

SJR1412 and its counterpart, HJR 1127, are the latest in a string of bills to radically change the citizen initiative process. In 2019 and 2020, legislators passed two laws making the citizen initiative process more cumbersome. In 2021, lawmakers passed a bill to cap donations Floridians can give to ballot initiative campaigns they support. That’s why it's critically important to stop SJR 1412 dead in its tracks.

We’re urging everyone to contact their state senator and tell them to preserve the constitutional rights of Florida voters. After you do, please consider urging a friend or family member to do the same.

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­­Tell your lawmakers to vote “NO” on HB 95!

Alarming news. A bill that would harm cannabis consumers and communities of color could get a vote in the Florida House of Representatives as soon as Tuesday!

Let your states legislators know they should be rolling back — not increasing — cannabis penalties.

Last year, Rep. Scott Plakon (R) and Rep. Webster Barnaby (R) authored HB 95, which would 1) charge a person who illegally distributes a controlled substance to someone who later dies with murder, and 2) enhance the penalties to 10-15 years in prison for possession with intent to sell a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a number of healthcare and substance abuse facilities.

Despite adopting medical cannabis in 2016, cannabis is still considered a controlled substance under Florida law. Cannabis doesn’t cause fatal overdoses, but HB 95 could potentially result in a person who shared a joint with a friend being convicted of murder if their friend irresponsibly drove while impaired and died as a result.

More troubling is the second goal of HB 95, which would disproportionately impact densely populated, urban centers that many of Florida’s health facilities and communities of color call home.

HB 95 was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee last month on a 14-6 vote and has been added to the House special calendar for Tuesday, February 22. It could receive a vote that day. 

That’s why we’re urging you to contact your state representative and tell them to vote “NO” on HB 95. Alternatively, we’re also asking lawmakers to amend HB 95 to exempt cannabis. After emailing your state representative, consider urging your friends and family to do the same. 

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Tell your legislators it’s time to support legalization!

Earlier this week, the 2022 session for Florida’s legislature kicked off. Although this year is a short session that ends in just three months, lawmakers have already filed several cannabis-related proposals, and many remain pending from the 2021 session.

Decriminalization

While Florida voters enacted a medical cannabis program in 2014, Florida remains one of only 19 states that imposes jail time for simple possession.

Action: Let’s make this the year Florida enacts sensible cannabis reform!

In October 2021, Minority Leader Sen. Bobby Powell (D) sponsored S 470, which would reduce the penalty for possession of up to 20 grams of cannabis to a $100 fine plus court costs. The following month, Rep. Dotie Joseph (D) filed H 725, which reduces the penalty for possession of up to one ounce of cannabis to a $50 fine. And in December 2021, Rep. Mike Caruso (R) filed H 957, which decriminalizes possession up to 20 grams. Each of these bills has been refiled for the 2022 legislative session.

Legalization

Earlier this week, Sen. Gary Farmer (D) filed three measures that collectively propose a legal adult-use cannabis market in the Sunshine State. S 1658 would impose a 15% sales tax on cannabis sold at retail stores and tax sales of food or beverages containing cannabis sold by a cannabis consumption site at a rate of 19 cents per milligram of THC. The bill also provides that counties and municipalities can establish additional sales taxes of up to 3.75% of the sales price of cannabis sold at retail stores. Counties and municipalities would be allowed to impose an additional tax of up to four cents per milligram of THC on sales of food or beverages containing cannabis sold by consumption sites.

Action: Tell your legislator it’s time to support legalization!

On the other side of the aisle, S 776 was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R) in the 2021 session. The proposal would legalize possession of up to four ounces and has also been reintroduced for the 2022 session.

Separately, there are three additional­­­ legalization measures that remain pending in the House that were introduced during the 2021 session.

Be sure to reach out to your lawmakers to let them know you want them to legalize cannabis for adult use this session! After you reach out, please urge your friends and family in Florida to do the same.

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