New Florida House Bill Targets Public Smoking, Including Marijuana
A proposed bill in the Florida House aims to expand the list of places where smoking is prohibited, including the addition of marijuana to the list of banned substances. The bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Alex Andrade, would prohibit smoking in a wide range of public areas, including streets, sidewalks, highways, public parks, beaches, and common areas of schools, hospitals, government buildings, and businesses.
The proposal would also extend the ban to airport in-transit lounges, where passengers can currently smoke tobacco products. However, it would not apply to unfiltered cigars, which are exempt from the state’s current tobacco restrictions.
Florida has a history of restricting smoking in public places. In 2002, voters approved a ban on smoking in all enclosed indoor workplaces, and in 2022, lawmakers allowed cities and counties to restrict smoking at beaches and parks they own. Medical marijuana was legalized in the state through a constitutional amendment in 2016, but a 2024 effort to allow recreational marijuana failed to receive the necessary 60% approval.
The new bill aims to further reduce the places where smoking is allowed, including marijuana, in an effort to promote public health and safety.
