Pembroke Pines, FL Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)

06 creates the Adult Civil Citation (ACC) Program, letting Pembroke Pines police officers use discretion to divert first-time adult misdemeanor offenders from criminal court instead of making an arrest. The city contracts with a PROVIDER qualified in mental or behavioral health and addiction-recovery counseling, and any adult issued a citation pays the cost of that provider's program. 06(D), the ACC Program is available only for six categories of misdemeanors: criminal mischief and petit theft (if the victim consents), possession of alcohol by someone under 21, possession of 20 grams or less of cannabis, possession of paraphernalia tied to that amount of cannabis, and assault or battery (if the victim consents).

06(E) requires the person to admit understanding their Miranda rights, admit to the cited offense, waive the right to appear in court, waive the right to a speedy trial, and agree to complete the provider's education or counseling program, and pay restitution if applicable, by the Department's deadline. Anyone cited specifically for cannabis possession must also submit to drug screening, and if the results warrant it, complete the provider's addiction-recovery program as a further condition of finishing the ACC Program. Refusing to accept the citation in the first place can result in arrest instead.