Florida Senator Tina Scott Polsky has introduced two bills for the 2026 legislative session. SB 136 would provide employment protections for registered medical marijuana patients, prohibiting adverse actions against workers or job applicants for medical cannabis use, with exemptions for impairment. It also mandates written notice for positive THC tests and requires employers to attempt reasonable accommodations. SB 130 focuses on parental rights, preventing courts from denying or restricting custody or visitation based solely on a parent's status as a qualified medical marijuana patient. These efforts come as advocates push for adult-use legalization on the 2026 ballot, despite past setbacks and Governor DeSantis's prediction that the new measure faces legal trouble. Recent polls show mixed but generally supportive public opinion for cannabis reform in Florida.

Florida Senator Files Bills Protecting Medical Cannabis Patients’ Jobs and Parental Rights

Oct 9, 2025

Source:

Kyle Jaeger

Marijuana Moment

Florida is making moves to better protect its medical cannabis community. State Senator Tina Scott Polsky has introduced two key bills for the 2026 session aimed at securing the rights of registered patients. SB 136 focuses on the workplace, seeking to prevent public employers from firing or snubbing applicants just for being medical cardholders or testing positive for THC, provided they aren't impaired on the clock. Meanwhile, SB 130 aims to stop courts from using a parent’s legal medical cannabis status as the sole reason to restrict custody or visitation. This legislative push happens alongside a court ruling that the smell of weed alone isn't enough for a vehicle search, showing a real shift toward fairness in the Sunshine State.

For regular tokers, these protections are massive. It’s about ensuring that following state law to manage your health doesn't cost you your job or your family. As the state eyes full adult-use legalization in 2026, these bills provide a vital safety net that treats cannabis users with the basic respect they deserve.