The 2026 Florida Legislative Session began with organization.

In the weeks leading up to session, Florida Cannabis Action Network (FLCAN) and its partners made a deliberate shift. Instead of reacting to legislation, we showed up early. Through our Ambassador program, advocates from across the state participated in committee weeks, meeting legislators, engaging staff, and building relationships before the session even began. By opening day, our legislative allies knew we were serious about showing up and staying.

Our strategy was intentional. We encouraged lawmakers to introduce two types of bills: bold “messaging” proposals to attract attention and reshape the conversation, and practical reforms designed to move incrementally. That approach worked. The home grow bill was filed by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith as early as possible generating meaningful media attention. At the same time, we worked with allies like Rep. Susan Valdés to advance the veterans’ card bill (HB 887), a targeted reform aimed at reducing costs for veterans to enter the medical program.

But the session also showed that momentum does not always follow a straight line. Midway through, a broader patient bill emerged, filed by Rep. Bill Partington as HB 719, with a Senate counterpart, SB 1032, filed by Sen. Alexis Calatayud. These bills included several priorities long championed by FLCAN, including reduced costs for veterans and expanded patient access. Yet they were developed without direct coordination with our coalition. That moment reflected both progress and a challenge: cannabis policy is no longer fringe, but without alignment, it risks being shaped inconsistently.

If there was a defining force this session, however, it was not a bill: It was the people.

Veterans showed up.

Members of The Grateful Veterans made repeated trips to Tallahassee, traveling long distances with their service animals, including Gus, who became a familiar presence in the Capitol. They were joined by leaders like Tammy Long of BattleBuds and Tanya Bailey of GI Green, bringing lived experience directly into legislative conversations. Our own veteran leaders, Steve Thaw and Monica Love, made the trip to rally with other veterans. They sat in committee rooms, walked the halls, and spoke to lawmakers about what access to cannabis means in real life. The effect was undeniable. Cannabis policy stopped being abstract. It became personal. It became healthcare.

And still, despite the momentum, the finish line moved.

HB 887 passed the House, but the Senate did not take it up before adjournment. None of the priority bills ultimately became law. Yet just as importantly, none of the harmful bills were passed either. (You can check the bills we watch here.) This outcome must be viewed in the broader context of the session, which was marked by significant conflict between House and Senate leadership. Major priorities stalled, including the Department of Health bill and even the state budget itself. The special session scheduled for April 20, 2026, has attracted renewed attention to address these issues.

This legislative gridlock, while frustrating, created a kind of balance. Progress was delayed, but so was regression.

All of this unfolded against a shifting national backdrop. The Trump Administration’s executive order directing the rescheduling of marijuana marked a historic turning point, formally acknowledging the plant’s medical value at the federal level. At the same time, ongoing legal challenges and organizing efforts by the Smart and Safe Florida campaign continue to reinforce the role of voters in shaping cannabis policy.

Back in Florida, the coalition continues to grow. Organizations like Cannabis Lawyers, Accountants, and Businesses (CLAB), industry stakeholders, patient advocates, and grassroots ambassadors are beginning to align more closely. FLCAN’s role as a bridge—between consumers, businesses, and lawmakers—is becoming more central with each session.

The 2026 session did not deliver immediate legislative victories, but it delivered something just as important: proof that the strategy is working. We showed up early. We stayed engaged. We built relationships. We elevated the conversation. And we prevented harmful policy from advancing.

Now, attention turns to the special session. Budget negotiations often become vehicles for policy language—both good and bad. We will be there again, working to prevent harmful provisions and to advance patient-centered reforms, including veterans’ access.

Progress rarely comes in a straight line.

But it comes to those who show up.

And in 2026, we did.