A Republican lawmaker in Florida has reintroduced a proposal that would allow medical marijuana patients in the state to grow up to two cannabis plants at home—this time without separate provisions he had included in prior legislation that would have also cracked down on hemp-derived cannabinoids in the state.
Rep. Joe Gruters (R) last month filed a homegrow bill that would have simultaneously banned a range of hemp-derived cannabinoids and also capped delta-9 THC—the chief psychoactive component in marijuana—at 2 milligrams per serving and 20 mg per package in hemp products. Later, however, Gruters retracted the measure. He promised to bring a bill that would only apply to homegrow “as soon as they are ready.”
SB 456, a new bill filed on Friday would allow cannabis patients registered with the state who are 21 years old and older, to grow two plants of their choice for personal consumption, as long as they apply and receive a certificate first from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
It would be necessary for the department to set up procedures that “provide rules governing the inspection, registration, suspension, replacement and revocation” of cannabis plants, as well as the renewal, suspension and replacement of certificates.
Rental applicants would have to present documentation that proves their landlord’s consent to marijuana being grown in the premises.
The cultivation of cannabis would also need to be performed “in an area that is locked and enclosed to prevent access from unauthorized individuals and people younger than the age of 21.”
A violation of these limits is a misdemeanor in the first degree.
The bill was not referred to any legislative committee as of Friday afternoon.
Gruters, a former chair of the Florida Republican Party, was a proponent of the backed legalization measure Amendment 3 last November—which would You can also check out our other blog posts. have legalized home cultivation—appearing in an ad alongside Sen. Shevrin Jones (D) to argue that the reform would be “good for Florida” despite strong pushback from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
Gruters and Kim Rivers—the CEO of Trulieve, a medical marijuana company that provided the bulk of funding for Amendment 3—also met with Trump ahead of his endorsement of the constitutional amendment, as well as federal rescheduling and industry banking access.
Some of the critics of Amendment 3 complained that it did not include a provision for home-grown produce, and thus would have forced consumers to purchase from only a few licensed retailers.
In a campaign flyer, the Republican Party in Washington State called it “a massive marijuana corporation power grab” that would eliminate their competition, and permanently enshrine their monopoly.
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DeSantis, meanwhile, repeatedly complained that legalizing marijuana in the state would lead to a rash of public consumption, causing the state to smell of cannabis. Gruters downplayed that concern but also introduced a bill to ensure that smoking in public would remain illegal.
As for hemp-derived cannabinoids, last year DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have banned intoxicating hemp products, which was widely seen as an effort to enlist the hemp industry in opposing Amendment 3.
Just months after a Florida marijuana legalization initiative failed at the ballot, the campaign behind the proposal has filed a revised version in hopes of getting a second shot in 2026.
Smart & Safe Florida’s 2024 measure did receive a majority of the vote in November, but it fell short of a steep 60 percent threshold to pass constitutional amendments under state law.
Separately, lawmakers in Florida this session have also introduced bills that would protect medical marijuana patients from discrimination in government jobs and prevent state courts from restricting certain parental rights based solely on a person’s status as a qualified cannabis patient.
The new GOP bill would block tax deductions for marijuana industry even after federal rescheduling
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