A bill initially filed by State Senator Joe Gruters that proposed allowing registered medical marijuana patients in Florida to grow marijuana plants at home, along with stricter regulations on the state’s hemp industry, has been withdrawn and will be reintroduced as a home grow-only measure.
The original legislation, Senate Bill 334, would have allowed patients to grow up to two marijuana plants for personal use. The bill specified that plants must be cultivated in secure, enclosed spaces hidden from public view and inaccessible to individuals under 21 years old. Violations would be classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and probation. The initial version also required renters to obtain landlord approval before cultivating plants.
However, the bill’s original provisions targeting Florida’s hemp industry—including banning smokable hemp products, restricting THC levels in hemp items, and prohibiting certain marketing practices—sparked significant debate. These provisions were seen as potentially harmful to the hemp market, with critics arguing they would impose excessive regulatory burdens. The hemp restrictions were ultimately excluded from the upcoming revised bill.
Gruters confirmed that the refiling will focus solely on home cultivation for medical marijuana patients, eliminating the hemp-related provisions entirely. If passed, this legislation would mark a significant step for patients seeking greater autonomy over their medical marijuana use.
The revised bill is expected to be introduced in the near future, providing a narrower scope that proponents hope will gain broader legislative support.
