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President Donald Trump attends press conference to mark his first year into his second term, and lawmakers in Tallahassee advance a proposal to ban public marijuana smoking.
Tuesday marks one year since President Donald Trump’s return to office. To mark the occasion – groups opposing the president’s immigration policies staged a walkout.
It happened all over the country. There were two local demonstrations in Lakeland and in St. Pete.
The group “Women’s March” called on Americans to walk out of work and school in a show of unity against the president’s policies.
Trump marked his first year back in office with a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room.
The president highlighted his busy year, holding up a printed list of what he considers his administration’s biggest accomplishments since taking office again January 20 last year.
“We’ve done more than any other administration has done so far, in terms of military, in terms of ending wars, in terms of completing wars,” he said.
Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would implement a statewide ban on smoking marijuana in public spaces.
A Florida Senate committee advanced SB 986 Tuesday in Tallahassee.
Current state law only allows for medical marijuana. But Florida voters could get another chance to legalize recreational marijuana at the ballot box later this year.
Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would ban both the smoking and vaping of marijuana in public places.
“By banning public smoking of marijuana, we are protecting community health and quality of life, as well as protecting certain outdoor spaces from marijuana smoke such as beaches and parks,” State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez said.
The bill advanced Tuesday unanimously in the Florida Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee.
Some supporters say the language might be too broad.
“The new definition of public places might very well include my front door, which would mean that I couldn’t even step outside my home and smoke cannabis, which is my legally protected right,” President of Florida Cannabis Action Network Jodi James said.
Under the bill, public spaces would include streets and sidewalks. It would apply perhaps to common areas like hotels and or an apartment.
“We have received feedback of concern from our members regarding the definition of public places and how it will impede or allow their ability to permit smoking in designated spaces on private property such as patios and designated hotel rooms or floors,” General Council for the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Samantha Padgett said.
The Senate version of the bill has at least two more committee stops before it can hit the floor for a vote. A similar bill is in the House and has three committee stops to clear before it could face a floor vote.
If approved, SB 986 would go into effect July 2026, four months before a potential recreational marijuana initiative would be decided on by voters in November.
