The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to exempt veterans of military service from paying registration fees for patient ID cards.
Rep. Alex Andrade’s HB 555 (R) was one of several marijuana-related laws that have been withdrawn over the past few days. Unlike the other bills, however, it had passed out of the chamber where it was filed, with House members voting 110–0 in favor. Nevertheless, it was postponed indefinitely by the Senate and it was withdrawn from consideration.
Senate action was taken on May 3rd. Florida lawmakers have approved extending the legislative session to early June. They will, however, be focusing on budgetary concerns after they return to Tallahassee.
Some of the other bills not passed include those that allow for patients to cultivate cannabis in their homes, extend the eligibility criteria of the medical cannabis program and protect the employment and parental rights to people who use it.
As filed originally, HB 555 had made major changes to the medical marijuana program in California, including allowing for home cultivation, as well as reciprocity between out-of state patients. The original language of HB 555 was replaced by a 2-page replacement that only made minor adjustments to the program.
The first change is that the renewal of medical marijuana cards would be reduced from an annual requirement to every two-years.
In addition, the State would be prohibited from charging veterans any fees to obtain, replace or renew their identification cards.
Sponsor Andrade has not responded to MEDCAN24’s multiple inquiries for comments on the bill being withdrawn and future possible actions.
Kevin Caldwell is Southeast Legislative Manager for Marijuana Policy Project. He said, regardless of whether lawmakers are able to find a solution for HB 555 in the extended session or not, it has been a “dismal session” for reforming cannabis policies in Florida.
He said that “there were many good cannabis policies” submitted to be debated, but as it has happened in previous legislative sessions, “the legislature doesn’t even want to talk about cannabis policy.”
Caldwell explained that lawmakers “have reduced HB 555, which would have established a robust medical marijuana program, to a simple bill that will extend the validity of an ID card for veterans and eliminate fees.”
Both of the proposed changes were great ideas, he said. “But they could be too much even for legislators.”
Some bills that were recently postponed or withdrawn would have allowed medical marijuana patients to grow their own cannabis in the home.
Mitch Rosenwald, a Democratic Representative from California introduced HB 83 to prevent public employers taking negative action against applicants or employees because of their medical marijuana status. Both the companion SB 142 from Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat, and HB 83 were defeated by each chamber.
SB 146 also by Polsky would have stopped state courts from deciding parental right based on a patient’s medical marijuana status. Further, it would not have allowed courts to presume neglect or endangerment of children based on the status of a parent as a medical marijuana patient.
SB 546 sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters would allow state-registered registered medical marijuana patients up to 2 cannabis plants per house for their personal use.
A now-withdrawn Gruters bill, SB 552, added “conditions for which patients have been prescribed opioid drugs” to Florida’s qualifying medical marijuana list. It also called on the regulators to create rules that would allow out-of state patients access to Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program.
In contrast, SB 778 by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, (D), added the “addiction or dependence to an opioid drug” as a condition for Florida’s qualifying medical cannabis conditions.
Separately, fresh changes to Florida law on ballot initiatives are expected create new hurdles for advocates aiming to put legislative proposals before voters—including, potentially, the renewed effort to legalize marijuana in the state.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure that tightens the requirements for citizen-initiated initiatives. It requires supporters to post a bond of $1,000,000 before they begin collecting signatures, forbids non-citizens and out-of state petitioners, and limits the time period during which the signatures can be presented to the election officials.
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The new obstacles to placing a proposal on the statewide ballot come on the heels of two contentious constitutional amendments that went before voters last year, including one—Amendment 3—that would have legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older, and another on abortion rights.
The campaign for the marijuana measure, Smart & Safe Florida, took in more than $150 million in campaign funds—with most from large cannabis companies such as Trulieve, a multi-state operator that contributed tens of millions of dollars.
It also clashed with DeSantis as well as the state Republican Party, the latter of which Smart & Safe Florida later sued for allegedly deceiving voters about the measure.
After Amendment 3 last year failed to win the 60 percent voter support needed to pass a constitutional amendment, Smart & Safe Florida is now aiming to put a revised legalization proposal on the 2026 state ballot.
Another group—hoping to qualify a measure that would expand Medicaid in the state—has already sued the DeSantis administration over the new law.
Florida Decides HealthCare said in a press release that the new law is unconstitutional and “significantly undermines Florida’s citizen-led constitutional amendment process” by enacting “sweeping restrictions,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The bill’s authors did not explicitly state that this new law was a reaction to any specific issue. However, the arguments for changing the current process were heard frequently in Florida in the lead-up to the election last year, where both abortion and marijuana rights were on ballots.
Caldwell of MPP stated that the inaction seen on the marijuana issue this session, “gives credence” to campaigns for ballot initiatives, and also the stricter rules regarding gathering signatures. The underregulated hemp market is unregulated, and it’s not surprising people have lost faith in Tallahassee to make decisions that affect everyday Floridians.
He added, “After an November election where under 56 percent voted to legalize marijuana for adults older than 21, I expected that lawmakers would implement common-sense reforms on either the criminal justice or medical sides.” “The scandal surrounding the funding of opposition to the legalization campaigns continues to spread dark clouds over Florida politics.”
Going forward, Smart & Safe Florida has so far submitted just under the 220,016 valid signatures needed to trigger a judicial and financial impact review of the proposal. The Florida Division of Elections reports that 880.062 valid signatures will be needed in total statewide for 2026 to appear on the ballot.
State elections officials recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to Smart & Safe Florida campaign, alleging that the group has “committed multiple election law violations.”
The Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS)—part of Florida’s Department of State—also fined Smart & Safe Florida more than $120,000 for submitting completed petitions more than 30 days after they were signed.
This issue was forwarded to Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a potential criminal investigation.
In a statement made to MEDCAN24, a representative from the campaign said that the team had faith in the system and would fight the assertion by the State of having violated the Election Law.
The statement states that “the claims appear to be an intentional effort to prevent the citizens of Florida from expressing their support for a citizen driven amendment.” We stand behind the process, and we had our legal counsel review all communications and forms before mailing.
Separately, some Republican lawmakers last month called for a criminal investigation into DeSantis over how $10 million in state funds were used to oppose last year’s ballot initiatives—including an $8.5 million donation to the campaign opposing legalization.
Lawmakers late last month also sent DeSantis a sweeping agricultural bill that includes a provision to outlaw the spores of psychedelic mushrooms.
This bill prohibits the transport, importation, sale or distribution of “spores, mycelium or any other material capable of generating mushrooms, or which contains a controlled substance during its lifetime, such as psilocybin, or psilocyn.”
Violation of the proposed law is a misdemeanor in first degree, punishable by up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.
New Mexico Marijuana Companies Suing Feds Over Seized State-Legal Products Say Government’s Position Is ‘A Study In Contradictions’
Philip Steffan is the photographer.
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