TALLAHASSEE, FL — December 2025 — As the year winds down, Florida’s cannabis industry is in the spotlight with several major policy shifts and legislative initiatives that could reshape patient access, home cultivation rights, and the future of marijuana regulation in the Sunshine State. From legislative proposals to slowdowns in patient growth to expanding eligibility and cultivation rights, the biggest cannabis stories in Florida this month signal a period of potential transformation.
Here’s a comprehensive look at the most significant cannabis news in Florida during December 2025:
1. Proposed Bill Could Allow Home Cultivation of Cannabis
One of the most noteworthy developments in Florida’s cannabis policy this month is a newly proposed bill that would permit certain qualified medical marijuana patients to grow cannabis at home — a departure from current law that restricts cultivation to licensed facilities. Under Senate Bill 776, filed in early December, qualified patients aged 21 and older could cultivate up to six flowering cannabis plants for personal use. The proposed legislation also allows patients to purchase medical marijuana seeds and clones from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs), ensuring quality and regulatory compliance. If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
Proponents of SB 776 argue that home cultivation could significantly reduce the cost of medicine for patients with chronic conditions, giving them more control over their supply, strain selection, and cultivation practices. Compliance safeguards within the bill aim to prevent access by unauthorized individuals, especially minors.
This home cultivation proposal represents one of the most substantial potential expansions of medical cannabis access in Florida in years, with advocates comparing it to similar laws in other medical states that have eased patient burdens and increased affordability.
2. New Legislative Initiatives to Expand Medical Marijuana Access
In addition to home cultivation, lawmakers in Tallahassee introduced another significant medical cannabis bill this month aimed at broadening access and easing regulatory hurdles. This measure, spearheaded by a Florida GOP lawmaker, would allow doctors to recommend cannabis for patients who have been prescribed opioids and could drastically increase physician-authorized supply limits.
Under the proposed legislation, qualified patients could receive up to ten 70-day supply limits or twenty 35-day limits for smokable marijuana — more than three times what is currently permitted — while modernizing renewal procedures and potentially reducing the frequency and cost of recertification.
The bill also includes provisions to simplify telehealth evaluations after an initial in-person visit, extend medical ID card durations from annual to biennial, and waive state card fees for honorably discharged veterans. This approach reflects broader efforts by lawmakers to ease barriers for patients and align Florida’s program more closely with national medical access trends.
If the legislature approves these changes in 2026, they could go into effect by mid-year, further expanding access for current and future medical marijuana patients.
3. Medical Marijuana Patient Growth Slows Despite Continued Sales Expansion
While legislative activity heats up, new data show that the overall growth in Florida’s medical marijuana patient population is slowing down in 2025, even as total sales and dispensary counts continue to rise.
According to reports from state medical marijuana registries, the number of active qualified medical marijuana patients increased modestly over the year — from approximately 895,000 in January to over 930,000 by December 2025. However, this growth rate is lighter than in previous years, prompting industry observers to suggest that the market could be nearing saturation given the length of time Florida has operated a medical access program.
Despite slower patient registration growth, the total volume of medical marijuana dispensed increased significantly, and the number of licensed dispensaries across the state grew as well — underscoring the ongoing strength of Florida’s medical cannabis market.
Industry analysts speculate that regulatory and application process barriers, as well as physician availability, may be constraining patient enrollment rates even as established patients maintain or increase their demand for cannabis products.
4. Broader National Context: Federal Policy Shifts Impact Florida
While this summary focuses on Florida, a major federal cannabis policy shift is reverberating across the industry and impacting markets nationwide, including in the Sunshine State. Reports surfaced this week that President Donald Trump is expected to pursue executive action to reclassify marijuana under federal law, potentially shifting it from Schedule I to Schedule III. Such a move would align cannabis more closely with other controlled medications and could significantly ease banking, research, and regulatory barriers that have long hindered industry growth.
The threat of federal reclassification—or eventual descheduling—has been a top cannabis policy issue for years, and any formal change could accelerate investment, research access, and interstate commerce in the coming decade.
What’s Next for Florida in 2026?
As December 2025 closes out, Florida’s cannabis landscape is marked by potential regulatory expansion, legislative activism, and market maturation. If the home cultivation proposal and medical program expansion bills advance through the legislature, 2026 could be the most transformative year yet for Florida’s medical marijuana program.
Key developments to watch in the early part of the year include:
- Legislative committee hearings on SB 776 and related medical cannabis expansion measures
- Continued analysis of patient trend data and market saturation effects
- Possible federal policy announcements regarding marijuana’s classification under federal law
With both state and national momentum building, Florida’s role in shaping the future of medical cannabis policy remains central — and patients, advocates, and industry stakeholders will be closely watching how these December developments unfold into action in 2026.
Sources
- Florida medical marijuana patient growth and sales trends — MJBizDaily (December 2025) (MJBizDaily)
- Florida GOP lawmaker files medical marijuana expansion bill — Marijuana Moment (December 2025) (Marijuana Moment)
- Senate Bill 776 and home cultivation proposal — Beard Bros Media (December 2025) (BEARD BROS PHARMS)