Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1056
       
       
        
       By Senator Martin
       
       
       
       
       
       33-00932A-26                                          20261056__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to open containers of marijuana
    3         products in motor vehicles; creating s. 316.19361,
    4         F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting a person from
    5         possessing an open container of certain products while
    6         operating or a passenger in or on a vehicle or while
    7         seated in or on a vehicle that is parked or stopped
    8         within a road; providing that such open container is
    9         considered to be in a person’s possession under
   10         certain circumstances; providing applicability;
   11         providing penalties; authorizing a local government to
   12         adopt certain ordinances; providing construction;
   13         creating s. 316.19362, F.S.; providing legislative
   14         intent; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 316.19361, Florida Statutes, is created
   19  to read:
   20         316.19361Possession of open containers of edibles, hemp,
   21  hemp extract, low-THC cannabis, marijuana, or THC beverages in
   22  vehicles prohibited; penalties.—
   23         (1)As used in this section and s. 316.19362, the term:
   24         (a)“Edibles” has the same meaning as in s. 381.986(1).
   25         (b)“Hemp” has the same meaning as in s. 581.217(3).
   26         (c)“Hemp extract” has the same meaning as in s.
   27  581.217(3).
   28         (d)“Low-THC cannabis” has the same meaning as in s.
   29  381.986(1).
   30         (e)“Marijuana” has the same meaning as in s. 381.986(1).
   31         (f)“Open container” has the same meaning as in s.
   32  316.1936(1).
   33         (g)“Qualified patient” has the same meaning as in s.
   34  381.986(1).
   35         (h)“Road” has the same meaning as in s. 316.1936(1).
   36         (i)“THC beverage” means a beverage infused with hemp, hemp
   37  extract, or low-THC cannabis.
   38         (2)(a)It is unlawful for any person to possess an open
   39  container of edibles, hemp, hemp extract, low-THC cannabis,
   40  marijuana, or THC beverage while operating a vehicle in this
   41  state or while a passenger in or on a vehicle being operated in
   42  this state.
   43         (b)It is unlawful for any person to possess an open
   44  container of edibles, hemp, hemp extract, low-THC cannabis,
   45  marijuana, or THC beverage while seated in or on a motor vehicle
   46  that is parked or stopped within a road. This paragraph does not
   47  apply to passengers in vehicles designed, maintained, and used
   48  primarily for the transportation of persons for compensation or
   49  in motor homes.
   50         (3)An open container of edibles, hemp, hemp extract, low
   51  THC cannabis, marijuana, or THC beverage is considered to be in
   52  the possession of the operator of a vehicle if the open
   53  container of such product is not in the possession of a
   54  passenger and is not located in a locked glove compartment,
   55  locked trunk, or other locked nonpassenger area of the vehicle.
   56         (4)An open container of edibles, hemp, hemp extract, low
   57  THC cannabis, marijuana, or THC beverage is considered to be in
   58  the possession of a passenger of a vehicle if the open container
   59  of such product is in the physical control of the passenger.
   60         (5)This section does not apply to:
   61         (a)A passenger of a vehicle in which the driver is
   62  operating the vehicle pursuant to a contract to provide
   63  transportation for passengers, and such driver holds a valid
   64  commercial driver license with a passenger endorsement issued in
   65  accordance with the requirements of chapter 322;
   66         (b)A passenger of a bus in which the driver holds a valid
   67  commercial driver license with a passenger endorsement issued in
   68  accordance with the requirements of chapter 322; or
   69         (c)A passenger of a self-contained motor home that is
   70  longer than 21 feet.
   71         (6)(a)An operator of a vehicle who violates this section
   72  commits a noncriminal moving traffic violation, punishable as
   73  provided in chapter 318. If the operator is a qualified patient,
   74  his or her identification card shall be suspended.
   75         (b)A second offense is punishable by imprisonment for not
   76  more than 90 days or by a fine of at least $25 but not more than
   77  $500, or by both such fine and imprisonment. If the operator is
   78  a qualified patient, his or her identification card shall be
   79  permanently revoked.
   80         (c)A third or subsequent offense is punishable by
   81  imprisonment for not more than 6 months or by a fine of at least
   82  $50 but not more than $1,000, or by both such fine and
   83  imprisonment.
   84         (7)A passenger of a vehicle who violates this section
   85  commits a noncriminal moving traffic violation, punishable as
   86  provided in chapter 318. If the passenger is a qualified
   87  patient, his or her identification card shall be suspended for a
   88  first offense and permanently revoked for a second offense.
   89         (8)A county or municipality may adopt an ordinance that
   90  imposes more stringent restrictions than those imposed by this
   91  section on the possession of edibles, hemp, hemp extract, low
   92  THC cannabis, marijuana, or THC beverages in vehicles.
   93         (9)This section does not prohibit the enforcement of s.
   94  316.302.
   95         Section 2. Section 316.19362, Florida Statutes, is created
   96  to read:
   97         316.19362Legislative intent; edibles, hemp, hemp extract,
   98  low-THC cannabis, marijuana, or THC beverages.—It is the express
   99  intent of the Legislature that the “plain smell” of edibles,
  100  hemp, hemp extract, low-THC cannabis, marijuana, or THC
  101  beverages constitutes probable cause for a vehicle search.
  102         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.