Florida Senate Panel Advances Bill Banning Public Marijuana Smoking and Vaping

Overview

• The Senate Regulated Industries Committee unanimously approved SB 986 on Tuesday, sending it to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
• SB 986 would fold marijuana into the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act by prohibiting smoking or vaping in public places including streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, and shared common areas of apartments, restaurants, transportation hubs, and government buildings.
• The proposal uniquely bars marijuana smoking or vaping in designated smoking rooms at any time, a restriction not found in current law.
• The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association supported adding marijuana and vaping to the law but warned that the bill’s broad public-place definition could undercut patios and designated hotel smoking rooms on private property.
• Medical marijuana advocates argued the bill is overly broad and could limit lawful patient use at apartments or lodging, noting Florida has roughly 932,000 qualified patients.