Florida lawmakers this week advanced legislation that includes a provision to revoke medical cannabis cards from patients with drug offense convictions. The proposed law would apply to even minor offenses, including the purchase of 10 grams or more of cannabis, according to a report from online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment.
The proposal is part of Senate Bill 2514 (SB 2514), which was approved by the Florida Senate in April. The state House of Representatives, however, approved a different version of the bill, sending the legislation to a conference committee comprised of members from both chambers.
The conference committee is responsible for reconciling differences between the two versions of the bill. Once an agreement is reached, both chambers will have to pass the conference committee’s version of the bill before it can be sent to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration.
House Lawmakers Agree to Proposal
On Monday, Florida Politics reported that House lawmakers have agreed to the medical cannabis language included in the Senate version of the bill. Under the legislation, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) would be required “to revoke the registration” of otherwise qualified medical cannabis patients or caregivers who “entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or was found guilty” of a covered drug offense.
The legislation also requires the DOH to suspend the medical cannabis registration of patients and caregivers who are charged with a covered drug offense. The suspension would go into effect immediately after charges are filed and would not end until “final disposition of the alleged offense.”
The provision would apply to those charged under the state Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. Initially passed in 1973 and amended several times since, the law is an effort to “comprehensively address drug abuse prevention and control in this state.” Under the measure, the legal definition of drug abuse includes participation in the unregulated cannabis market, either as a buyer or a seller.
The revocations would apply to those charged or convicted of relatively minor offenses, including purchasing 10 or more grams of any controlled substance, including cannabis. Additionally, the provision would apply to a “person who delivers, without consideration, 20 grams or less of cannabis.”
Some Details of the Legislation Unclear
A plain language analysis of the legislation does not specify if the medical cannabis registration revocations will only apply to future criminal charges or if state officials will be required to conduct a review of the patient database and revoke the registrations of patients and caregivers with past convictions.
Writing about the provision, Florida Politics said that “for those who found the medical marijuana program as a way to escape the black market, the new language may complicate their legal status.”
While the agreement to include the medical cannabis language in the conference committee’s version of the bill has not been finalized, Florida Politics reported that it appears “very likely that the criminal records of program participants may have new relevance in the medical framework.”
Cannabis Legalization in Florida
Florida legalized medical cannabis in 2016 with the approval of Amendment 2, which received the support of 72% of voters. The legislation authorized doctors to recommend the use of medical cannabis by patients with certain qualifying conditions.
In November 2024, a majority (55.9%) of Florida voters supported an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in the state, but the proposal fell short of the 60% of votes required to become law. Supporters of the initiative filed a new proposal in January, hoping to put recreational cannabis legalization on the ballot again for the 2026 general election.
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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
