Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) has vetoed a bill that would have allowed medical cannabis patients to get certified by a physician for the state’s cannabis program via telehealth, established criminal penalties for unlicensed operation of a medical cannabis dispensary, and prohibited cannabis cultivation without a Department of Health-issued permit.  

In his veto message, Green, a medical doctor, focused on the bill’s telehealth provisions, claiming that they authorize “the inspection of patients’ medical records without warrant,” which constitutes “a grave violation of privacy.”

“Given that the federal government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, patients’ reasonable fears of repercussions based upon information gained from inspection of their personal medical records may deter patients from participating in the medical cannabis program.” — Green in the veto message 

The message did not outline any opposition to other provisions in the bill but noted that Green’s administration “remains committed to Hawai‘i’s existing medical cannabis program and supports efforts to expand access to medical cannabis for any medical condition.” 

In April, Hawaii House lawmakers took aim at shops selling intoxicating hemp-derived products. In a resolution, the chamber said that there are more than 84 “illegal dispensary operators” in the state and that the number is increasing “exponentially.” The bill vetoed by Green focused on illegally operating medical cannabis dispensaries, but did not address shops selling intoxicating hemp products.  

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A legislative proposal now before a Florida conference committee threatens to revoke medical marijuana registrations for people convicted of certain drug crimes—including simply purchasing more than 10 grams of cannabis.

The provision, which would affect both registered patients and caregivers, was agreed to on Tuesday by House lawmakers. It was a part of SB 2514 when the legislation was filed and later passed by the Senate, while the House approved an entirely different version of the bill and sent the disagreement to be ironed out in the conference committee, formed earlier this month.

As first reported by Florida Politics, House lawmakers have now signed off on the Senate medical marijuana language, offering to accept that provision. Though the offer hasn’t been finalized, it’s reportedly “very likely” the restriction will be included.

The Senate language would require the state Department of Health (DOH) “to revoke the registration” of a qualified patient or caregiver if that person “entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or was found guilty” of a covered drug offense.

Patients’ or caregivers’ registrations would be suspended immediately upon charges being filed, and the suspensions would last until “final disposition of the alleged offense.”

It’s not clear from the plain language of the proposal whether it would impact only future criminal cases involving medical marijuana patients and caregivers or whether DOH would need to review the records of existing program registrants and revoke registrations of an untold number of Floridians with past drug convictions.

Florida Politics wrote of the bill 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.”

The provision would impact people charged under the state Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act and reportedly covers cases involving the purchase of more than 10 grams” of any illicit substance or the delivery “without consideration, [of] 20 grams or less of cannabis.”

Lawmakers defeated several proposals to expand the medical cannabis program during this year’s regular legislation session—including by allowing home cultivation, adding new qualifying conditions, protecting employment and parental rights of patients and letting military veterans register for free.

Meanwhile in Florida, advocates are working toward putting a new adult-use marijuana legalization measure on the 2026 state ballot following the failure of Amendment 3 at the polls last November.

After filing the measure and launching a signature drive earlier this year, the campaign Smart & Safe Florida has collected 377,832 valid signatures—about 150,000 more than required to kick off the review process, according to Division of Elections numbers from earlier this month.

The state is now statutorily obligated to conduct a judicial and financial review of the measure that will determine its legal eligibility and inform the electorate about its potential economic impact.

Smart & Safe Florida is hoping the revised version will succeed in 2026. The campaign—which in the last election cycle received tens of millions of dollars from cannabis industry stakeholders, principally the multi-state operator Trulieve—incorporated certain changes into the new version that seem responsive to criticism opponents raised during the 2024 push.

For example, it now specifically states that the “smoking and vaping of marijuana in any public place is prohibited.”Another section asserts that the legislature would need to approve rules dealing with the “regulation of the time, place, and manner of the public consumption of marijuana.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) had repeatedly condemned the 2024 initiative over that issue, claiming there were not parameters to prevent public smoking, while expressing his distaste for the smell of cannabis.

The governor said in February that the newest measure is in “big time trouble” with the state Supreme Court, predicting it will be blocked from going before voters next year.

Last year, the governor accurately predicted that the 2024 cannabis measure from the campaign would survive a legal challenge from the state attorney general. It’s not entirely clear why he feels this version would face a different outcome.

While there’s uncertainty around how the state’s highest court will navigate the measure, a poll released in February showed overwhelming bipartisan voter support for the reform—with 67 percent of Florida voters backing legalization, including 82 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of independents and 55 percent of Republicans.

However, the results conflict with another recent poll from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, a proactive opponent of legalization, that found majority support for the reform among likely voter (53 percent) but not enough to be enacted under the 60 percent requirement.

In the background of the campaign’s signature development, DeSantis signed a GOP-led bill last month to impose significant restrictions on the ability to put initiatives on the ballot—a plan that could impair efforts to let voters decide on marijuana legalization next year.

Separately, a Florida GOP senator claimed recently that the legalization campaign “tricked” Trump into supporting the 2024 measure by misleading him and the general public about key provisions.

Ahead of the election, Trump said in September that he felt Amendment 3 was “going to be very good” for the state.

Before making the comments, Trump met with the CEO of Trulieve, Kim Rivers, as well as with a GOP state senator who is in favor of the reform.

While Trump endorsed the Florida cannabis initiative—as well as federal rescheduling and industry banking access—he has since been silent on cannabis issues. And his cabinet choices have mixed records on marijuana policy.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service administrator last week sent a letter to all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers noting that cannabis-derived products are ineligible for purchase with SNAP. In the letter, Administrator James C. Miller said the clarification is part of the agency’s commitment to fighting “waste, fraud, and abuse.”  

“This letter serves as a reminder that it is a program violation to accept SNAP benefits for foods and drinks containing controlled substances such as cannabis/marijuana.” — Miller, in the letter 

The letter adds that “Retailers who commit program violations will face consequences which include disqualification from the ability to accept SNAP benefits, monetary penalties, fines and/or criminal prosecution.” 

The letter does not contain any information about what prompted it or the rate at which cannabis-infused food and drinks are purchased using SNAP benefits. 

The USDA website also lists CBD products on its ineligible list, alongside beer, wine, and liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, vitamins, medicines, and supplements, live animals, foods that are hot at point-of-sale, and non-food items. 

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