If the measure is approved by 60 percent or more Citizens, it will include marijuana for “adult use” in the state law.
The state Supreme Court ruled on April 1 that a constitutional amendment to make marijuana for “adult use” or outdoor use in Florida will look on the November ballot.
Florida’s Amendment 3, titled” Adult Personal Use of Marijuana”, would permit adults 21 years or older to “possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for quasi- health private consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise”, and enshrine this access in the state constitution.
The ballot initiative is sponsored by” Smart &, Safe Florida” but generally bankrolled by Trulieve Cannabis Corp., the largest “medical weed treatment middle”, or cafe, in the state of Florida and one of the largest in the country with businesses in many states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. Trulieve contributed more than$ 40 million to the initiative.
” We are appreciative that the Court determined that the ballot program and the court’s description language meet the requirements for quality and one subject.” We look forward to supporting this battle as it approaches the vote this fall,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said in a statement.
” Trulieve was the primary financial supporter of the initiative during the signature gathering effort and subsequent court challenge, and is a proud supporter, alongside a strong coalition of other organizations, of the next crucial step to educate Residents on the article and secure a’ Yes’ voting on Amendment 3 this November,” she continued.
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The 2024 program for poll entry was approved by Florida’s Supreme Court, but state law mandates that all suggested revisions must have at least 60 % of the vote in order to be incorporated into the state law. The Sunshine State received 71.32 percentage of the vote when a legal act legalizing medical marijuana was passed in 2016.
Never a Surprise
Some Floridians were surprised to learn that the state Supreme Court had approved the ballot effort, especially after some justices appeared to be wary of the arguments made by attorneys for Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody during a court hearing on November 8, 2023. Ms. Moody filed briefs to have the court reject the initiative.
Prior to publication, The Epoch Times reached out to Ms. Moody for comment.
Gov. Ron DeSantis also predicted the high court’s decision to approve the initiative back on January 19 at his final campaign event in New Hampshire before resigning from the race for president.
He told cannabis lobbyist Don Murphy, who inquired about the initiative with the governor at the campaign event,” I think the court is going to approve that.”
If at least 60 percent of voters approve the proposed constitutional amendment, Florida will join 24 other states and Washington DC that have legalized possession and “adult personal use” of marijuana, or recreational marijuana, as of November 2023.
Ohio, one of the most recent states to legalize recreational marijuana, also did so with a ballot initiative. However, it passed with 57.19 percent of the vote, as ballot initiatives in Ohio only need a simple majority.
On April 1, Florida’s Supreme Court approved a ballot initiative that would, if passed, would enshrine abortion as a state constitutional right. Due to the two amendments appearing on the same ballot, especially among left-leaning voters who might be more in favor of legalization of abortion and recreational marijuana, political analysts anticipate a higher voter turnout than the average in the Sunshine State.
According to the poll, 72 % of Democrats from all age groups share this sentiment.
