Florida Legislature to Consider Major Changes to Medical Marijuana Program
As the 2025 Florida legislative session approaches, several bills have been filed that aim to make significant changes to the state’s medical marijuana program. One of the most notable proposals is the expansion of qualifying medical conditions to include any condition for which a patient has been prescribed an opioid. This would allow for a wider range of patients to access medical marijuana.
Another bill, SB 546, would allow qualified medical marijuana patients to grow their own plants for personal consumption. This would give patients more control over their treatment and potentially reduce costs.
Additionally, a bill aimed at protecting public employees who use medical marijuana has been filed. Under this proposal, public employers would be prohibited from taking adverse personnel action against an employee or job applicant for their use of medical marijuana, as long as the employee is a qualified patient and their use is not impairing their ability to do their job.
A separate bill, SB 778, would add addiction to or dependence on an opioid drug to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.
In other news, a bill aimed at regulating hemp extract products, also known as “diet weed,” has been filed. This proposal would establish stricter regulations on the sale and packaging of these products, including banning retail sales to anyone under 21 and requiring child-resistant containers.
The 2025 legislative session is set to begin on March 4, and these proposals are just a few of the many bills that will be considered. With the growing popularity of medical marijuana in Florida, it will be interesting to see which of these proposals ultimately become law.
