ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.
Trooper Steve was recently asked by a viewer named Jennifer, “I was out and about this week and at least four times ended up smelling what I hope was someone’s ‘herbal tea’ pouring out of a car around me. It was awful. Did the law change about this?”
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Short answer? Nope. Long answer? Still nope.
“There’s an old saying: Give an inch, take a mile,” Trooper Steve said. “And when it comes to recreational marijuana in Florida, it seems some folks are trying to take that mile... and drive it — windows down, fog machine — on full blast.”
To be clear, Florida has NOT legalized recreational marijuana.
If you’re legally carrying marijuana in Florida, it means you have a medical marijuana license.
But — and this is a big BUT — even with that card, you are not allowed to spark one up while driving.
“That’s the same as cracking open a cold one at the wheel,” Trooper Steve added.
There are clear rules on how marijuana must be stored and transported. And nowhere do the rules state, “Feel free to hotbox your Corolla in traffic.”
So let’s keep it simple:
- If you don’t have a medical marijuana card, the drug should not be in your car.
- If you do have one, the marijuana should be properly stored.
- And whether you have a card or not, don’t light up behind the wheel.
“Let’s leave the fog at home and keep the roads clear, for the sake of everyone’s nose — and the law," he added. “Drive safe. Drive smart. And maybe crack a window — for fresh air this time."
If you have a traffic question for Trooper Steve, submit it here.
