Florida lawmakers continue to grapple with cannabis regulations, with two Republicans now looking to target open containers of flower and derivatives inside vehicles.
Sen. Jon Martin and Rep. Dean Black are carrying what Black calls the “Clear Minds, Safe Roads Act” (SB 1056, HB 1003), legislation intended to ensure that Florida’s 930,000-plus medical marijuana patients keep their containers closed and their vapes and pipes unready for use while in vehicles.
“THC use is killing hundreds of people a year on Florida roads,” Black said. “Since 2020, we’ve had nearly 4,000 fatalities and injuries on our highways. With the increased use of marijuana, we need clear, enforceable rules that protect drivers, passengers, and everyone else on our roads. This bill makes it crystal clear: driving high is unacceptable.”
The bill also would make it easier for law enforcement to have probable cause to search vehicles, stipulating that the “smell” of cannabis constitutes grounds for search during a traffic stop or while the vehicle is parked.
First-time violators could have their licenses suspended, while repeat offenders could have their driving privileges revoked.
“The bill lays out how to travel with medical marijuana — it’s not complicated,” Black said. “It must be locked away, just as we require for alcohol.”
Black says crashes related to THC have risen particularly among drivers from 25 to 29 years of age.
“In the 1980s, we cracked down on drinking and driving because cocktail parties on our streets were killing people,” Black said. “People are dying again — this time because of THC — and it’s time to stop it. I look forward to carrying this bill in the House.”
If this bill becomes law, it takes effect in October.
A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski
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