For years, the one thing missing from Florida’s medical cannabis program has been the right to "home grow." While other states allow patients to tend their own small gardens, Floridians have been required to purchase exclusively from licensed centers.

That conversation is changing rapidly in 2026. Here is an update on the movement that could soon allow you to cultivate your own wellness at home.

Understanding Senate Bill 776

As of early 2026, Senate Bill 776 is the primary vehicle for this change. Unlike past efforts that sought broad recreational rights, this bill is specifically designed for qualified medical patients. If passed, the legislation would allow registered patients over the age of 21 to:

• Cultivate up to six flowering plants at their private residence.
• Purchase seeds and clones directly from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs).
• Maintain a personal, non-commercial supply of medicine.

Safety and Responsibility

Dr. Kunwar and the team at East County Internal Medicine believe that patient education is the foundation of any medical advancement. The Home Grow movement emphasizes responsible cultivation. The current bill includes strict requirements for "securing" plants—ensuring they are kept in locked, enclosed areas away from minors—and maintains the illegality of selling or "gifting" home-grown products.

Why the Shift?

The movement is gaining traction because it addresses the "medical necessity" of consistent access. For patients in more rural parts of East County or those with limited mobility, the ability to grow a personal supply removes the barrier of travel and the fluctuating stock of retail dispensaries. It turns medical cannabis from a retail transaction back into a botanical healthcare option.

What’s Next?

While the bill has been introduced and referred to key committees (Health Policy and Fiscal Policy), it has not yet become law. As your partners in health, we are monitoring these legislative sessions closely. We believe that whether you buy from a pharmacy or grow in your garden, the goal remains the same: safe, effective, and personalized relief.

Have questions about how to stay compliant with current Florida laws while these changes develop?

[Book a Consultation with Dr. Kunwar]

As a physician here at East County Internal Medicine, my goal has always been to ensure our community has access to the highest level of care without needing to trek across the bridge to Tampa or down to Miami. Today, I’m incredibly proud to highlight a massive milestone for Bradenton: Manatee Memorial Hospital has performed the county’s first-ever tricuspid valve replacement using the Edwards EVOQUE system.

Why This Matters to You

For years, the tricuspid valve was often called the “forgotten valve.” When it fails—a condition known as tricuspid regurgitation—it leads to heart failure, fatigue, and swelling. Traditionally, the only fix was high-risk open-heart surgery, which many of our senior or high-risk patients simply couldn’t undergo.
This new procedure is a total game-changer. Using a minimally invasive catheter-based approach (entering through a small incision in the leg), surgeons can now replace the valve without ever opening the chest.

Your PCP should be Aware

As an Osteopathic Physician, I look at the “whole person.” Seeing this level of technology arrive in Bradenton means:
• Faster Recovery: My patients can get back to their families and their daily walks in Lakewood Ranch much sooner.
• Local Excellence: You don’t have to leave your support system. Your doctors, your hospital, and your recovery are all right here.
• Proven Capability: This proves that Bradenton is no longer a “small town” in terms of medical capability—we are operating at a Tier-1 cardiac level.

We’re Here to Help You Navigate Your Health

If you or a loved one have been told you have heart valve issues or are struggling with symptoms like shortness of breath and leg swelling, let’s talk. My role is to help you navigate these advanced options and ensure your heart is getting the care it deserves.
We are proud to be part of a community that is leading the way in Florida’s medical future.
Stay healthy, Bradenton.

1. Rising Insurance Premiums: Surging healthcare costs have made the "premium assistance" portion of ADAP increasingly difficult to maintain.
2. Stagnant Federal Funding: Federal Ryan White Grant funding hasnt kept pace with Florida’s growth, leaving the state to bridge a widening gap.

Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable
The new proposal shifts income eligibility from 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) down to 130%.
While this is a significant change, the logic is rooted in resource prioritization. By narrowing the focus to those at or below 130% FPLroughly $20,748 annually for an individualthe state aims to ensure that those with the least financial flexibility have guaranteed medication access. In a world of limited resources, prioritizing the most vulnerable is often the only way to prevent a total system collapse.
Encouraging Market Independence
The healthcare marketplace has evolved significantly. Many individuals between the 130% and 400% FPL markers now have access to alternative paths for care:

• ACA Marketplace Subsidies: The Marketplace remains a viable path for moderate-income Floridians to secure coverage.
• Manufacturer Assistance Programs: Most major pharmaceutical companies offer robust programs that provide medications at low or no cost to those who fall outside state-funded eligibility.

By moving away from a model where the state pays full premiums for moderate-income residents, Florida is shifting the weight to the private market and federal exchangesthe systems they were designed for.
The Path Forward
Fiscal responsibility in medicine is rarely popular, but it is necessary to ensure that Floridas public health infrastructure remains standing for decades to come. As the 21-day public comment period continues through March 4, we encourage our patients to stay informed on how these shifts affect local access.

• Frequency: Feeling like you have to go every hour.
• Urgency: That sudden, "must-go-now" feeling.
• Nocturia: Waking up multiple times a night to urinate.
• Weak Stream: A slow start or a "stop-and-start" flow.

The Specialist Shortage in Florida Current 2026 projections show that Florida has a significant physician gap. For urology, this means that while a specialist is necessary for surgery, they are often too backed up to handle the initial "workup" and medical management of common issues like BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia).
Why East County Internal Medicine Should Be Your First Stop You dont need to wait months to start feeling better. As an Internal Medicine practice, Dr. Kunwar can begin the essential "Phase 1" of your care immediately.

1. Same-Day/Next-Day Initial Testing: We can perform necessary urinalysis and PSA blood tests right away to rule out infections.
2. Medical Management: Many urinary symptoms respond well to medications. We can start these therapies now, often providing relief in days.
3. The "Bridge" to Specialty Care: If you eventually do need a urologist, youll arrive with your labs and treatment history already completed, making that specialist visit much more productive.

Dont Wait in Silence Urinary issues impact your sleep, travel, and confidence. If youre struggling with prostate-related symptoms, don’t let a "specialist waitlist" stop you from getting help.
Call us at East County Internal Medicine or Book ONLINE to see Dr. Kunwar this week.

• Neuromodulation: Using technology to "reset" how your brain perceives pain.
• Physical Rehabilitation: Strengthening the structures that actually support your weight.
• Realistic Expectations: Understanding that a disc bulge is often a normal part of aging, not a mechanical "error" that needs to be deleted.

Lets Get Real
If I tell you that you don’t need surgery, it isn’t because I’m ignoring your painits because Ive seen what happens when we try to take the "easy" way out with a surgeon. The "fix" isn’t in the operating room; its in the work we do right here in primary care to keep your spine intact and your life moving.
Shaan Kunwar DO
East County Internal Medicine – Your Doctor’s Office

We’re not here to debate the philosophical "shoulds" of healthcare. Instead, we want to talk about the "is"the reality on the ground that far too many people overlook until they’re in a moment of crisis.
Wake Up Call: Your Primary Care Isn’t a One-Size-Fits-All Service
In an area as rapidly growing as ours, new clinics and practices pop up constantly. It’s easy to assume all primary care is created equal, that a doctor’s office is just a doctor’s office. But that assumption could be detrimental to your health.
Just like with any other service you purchase, there are different levels of quality when it comes to primary care. This isn’t just about a friendly face; its about:

• Accessibility: Can you get an appointment when you actually need one, or are you waiting weeks for a routine visit?
• Time with Your Doctor: Do you feel rushed through appointments, or does your physician take the time to listen, explain, and build a relationship?
• Proactive vs. Reactive Care: Is your practice focused on preventing illness and optimizing your health, or primarily just reacting when you’re already sick?
• Integrated Approach: Do they consider your overall well-being, lifestyle, and unique health goals, or just treat symptoms in isolation?
• Technology & Efficiency: How smoothly do things run? Are your records managed effectively? Is communication clear?

In a commodity-driven market, some practices prioritize volume over value. They may be forced to see more patients in less time, leading to shorter appointments and a less personalized experience. This isn’t a criticism; it’s just the reality of how many operate within the current system.
How East County IM is Ahead of the Curve
At East County IM, we’ve not only observed this commodity-driven reality, but we’ve actively built our practice to counteract its potential pitfalls. We understand that in Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton, patients are looking for more than just a quick fixthey’re looking for genuine partnership in their health journey.
This understanding allows us to offer a different kind of primary care experience

If you are a chronic insomniac, I have a secret for you: I know why you aren’t sleeping. And its likely not because of your mattress or your caffeine intake.

The Real Culprit: Perpetual Thinking
While there are many medical causes for sleep disturbancesranging from sleep apnea to restless leg syndromethe most common cause I encounter in our Florida community is perpetual thinking.

It is a constant, low-grade anxiety; an addiction to thinking that creates a state of hyperarousal. Your brain has forgotten how to simply "be" and instead remains "on," scanning for problems, rehearsing tomorrows conversations, or replaying yesterdays mistakes. This mind chatter acts like a biological alarm clock that never stops ringing.

The Sedative Trap
When the mental noise becomes unbearable, its tempting to turn to sedatives or sleeping pills. While these may offer a temporary reprieve, they are often a "band-aid" for a much deeper issue.

• Temporary Relief: Sedatives work by slowing down brain activity, essentially knocking you unconscious rather than facilitating natural, restorative sleep.
• The "Dirty Brain" Effect: Recent research suggests that some common sleep aids may actually suppress the glymphatic system, the brain’s "waste management" process that clears out toxins while you sleep.
• The Rebound: Once the medication wears off, the underlying anxiety and racing thoughts returnoften with even more intensity.

Breaking the Cycle
The goal of true sleep health isn’t to sedate the mind, but to train it to let go. In our practice, we emphasize that insomnia is often a bidirectional relationship with anxiety. Treating one requires addressing the other.

Instead of reaching for a pill, we look toward long-term solutions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which focuses on changing the thought patterns that keep you awake. It’s about breaking the "addiction to thinking" and reclaiming the quiet.

If youre tired of the "mind chatter" and ready for a more sustainable approach to rest, come see us at East County Internal Medicine. Lets stop treating the symptoms and start addressing the cause.

At East County Internal Medicine, we see many patients in Lakewood Ranch managing five, ten, or even fifteen medications at once. This is a clinical scenario known as polypharmacy, and while each drug may have been prescribed with good intentions, the combination can sometimes do more harm than good.

The Risks of Polypharmacy in the Elderly
The way our bodies process medication changes as we get older. Our kidneys and liver may not clear drugs as quickly, and our sensitivity to side effects often increases. When too many medications interact, the risks include:

• Increased Fall Risk: Many medications cause dizziness or sedation, which are leading causes of hip fractures and head injuries in seniors.
• Cognitive Confusion: What looks like early dementia or "brain fog" is sometimes simply a side effect of a specific drug combination.
• Drug-Drug Interactions: One medication might cancel out the benefit of another or, worse, create a dangerous new side effect.
• Prescribing Cascades: This happens when a doctor prescribes a new medication to treat the side effect of an existing medication, leading to an endless cycle of more pills.

What is Deprescribing?
The "traditional" medical mindset is often about adding treatments. However, a vital new trend in geriatric and internal medicine is deprescribing.
Deprescribing is the supervised process of reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be beneficial or may be causing unnecessary harm. It isn’t about "giving up" on treatment; its about optimizing quality of life.
Why Deprescribing is "The Harder Trend"
If adding a pill is easy, taking one away is surprisingly difficult. It requires:

1. Close Monitoring: We cant just stop a medication "cold turkey." It requires a careful "tapering" process to ensure your body adjusts safely.
2. Clinical Courage: It takes time and expertise to look at a patients entire history and decide which "maintenance" drug from ten years ago is no longer serving them today.
3. Patient Trust: We understand that many patients feel "protected" by their medications. Moving away from a long-term prescription requires a strong doctor-patient relationship.

How We Can Help
At East County Internal Medicine, Shaan Kunwar, DO, prioritizes medication reconciliation at every visit. Our goal is to ensure that every pill you take has a clear, evidence-based purpose that outweighs its risks.
The First Step: Bring a "brown bag" of all your current medicationsincluding over-the-counter supplementsto your next appointment. Together, we can review your list and determine if you are a candidate for a "medication spring cleaning."
Ready to simplify your health?
Schedule an appointment at East County Internal Medicine today.