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Florida Supreme Court Gives State Attorney General Two More Weeks To File Briefs In Marijuana Legalization Ballot Challenge


The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to give the state attorney general two additional weeks to submit a brief detailing her argument that a proposed marijuana legalization initiative should be kept off the 2024 ballot.


The initial briefs were initially due by Monday, but the court approved an uncontested motion to push that deadline back to June 26 because Attorney General Ashley Moody’s (R) office said that it “has multiple pressing deadlines with limited staff assistance” that is preventing the argument from being completed on time.



Attorneys for the cannabis legalization campaign did not object to the deadline extension, and the court granted it on Tuesday—but not without warning Moody against seeking continual delays.


“Multiple extensions of time for the same filing are discouraged,” the court said in its order. “Absent extenuating circumstances, subsequent requests may be denied.”


State officials confirmed last week that the Smart & Safe Florida campaign collected enough valid signatures to qualify the legalization initiative for the 2024 ballot.


The Florida Division of Elections, which updates petition counts on the measure at the end of each month, reported that it had verified 967,528 signatures as of the end of May—exceeding the required 891,523 signature threshold.



At the end of January, the measure cleared an initial major hurdle, getting enough signatures to initiate a state Supreme Court review of the measure’s language, which the attorney general’s office is now challenging.


Moody submitted an initial filing to the court last month, briefly arguing that it violates the state Constitution’s single subject rule for ballot measures and saying she would detail her position in a subsequent briefing.


Despite the attorney general’s opinion, activists say that they’ve thoroughly vetted the measure and are confident the court will agree that it complies with constitutional requirements.



Moody made the same argument against a 2022 legalization measure, and the Supreme Court subsequently invalidated it. Initial briefings on the current case are due to the court by June 12. Subsequent reply briefs will then be required to be submitted by July 5 and 12.


In order to get on the ballot, an initiative must have valid signatures from registered voters totaling at least 8 percent of the district-wide vote in the most recent presidential election in at least 14 of the state’s 28 congressional districts—in addition to the statewide number needed. The marijuana campaign has met the threshold in exactly 14 districts, according to the recently updated state data.


The cannabis company Trulieve, which is financially backing the Smart & Safe Florida campaign and has contributed more than $38 million to date.



If approved, the measure would change the state Constitution to allow existing medical cannabis companies in the state like Trulieve to begin selling marijuana to all adults over 21. It contains a provision that would allow—but not require—lawmakers to take steps toward the approval of additional businesses. Home cultivation by consumers would not be allowed under the proposal as drafted.


Adults 21 and older would be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis, only five grams of which could be marijuana concentrate products. The three-page measure also omits equity provisions favored by advocates such as expungements or other relief for people with prior cannabis convictions.


A poll published in March found that 70 percent of Florida voters support legalizing marijuana. Florida voters approved a medical cannabis constitutional amendment in 2016.


Here’s what the Smart & Safe Florida marijuana legalization initiative would accomplish:


Adults 21 and older could purchase and possess up to three ounces of cannabis for personal use. The cap for marijuana concentrates would be five grams.


Medical cannabis dispensaries could “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute marijuana products and marijuana accessories to adults for personal use.”



The legislature would be authorized—but not required—to approve additional entities that are not currently licensed cannabis dispensaries.


The initiative specifies that nothing in the proposal prevents the legislature from “enacting laws that are consistent with this amendment.”


The amendment further clarifies that nothing about the proposal “changes federal law,” which seems to be an effort to avoid past legal challenges about misleading ballot language.


There are no provisions for home cultivation, expungement of prior records or social equity.


The measure would take effect six months following approval by voters.



Here’s the full text of the ballot title and summary:



“Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.”


Should the initiative make the 2024 ballot, at least 60 percent of Florida voters would have to approve the measure for it to be enacted.


An earlier poll released in 2021 found that a majority of Florida voters (59 percent) support legalizing cannabis for adult use, so that’s a slim margin that shows that advocates will have their work cut out for them if the measure qualifies.


Meanwhile, activists that aren’t directly involved in the Smart & Safe Florida campaign said last year that they were exploring plans to have voters decide on what they hope will be a complementary measure permitting adults to grow their own cannabis at home.
 
Also the governor has to sign it right? Not sure how the laws work in FL. So if their governor refuses what then? Are they SOL? Not to confuse anyone but I’m curious. I really want FL to be a legal state. They don’t have a reciprocal medical card from another state for the patient like from my state.
 
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This is the second time she has tried to thwart the ability of the electorate to express themselves on this issue via direct democracy, via technical arguments to FL Supreme Court of the wording of this proposed referendum, in order to advance her personal view of it. Recent polls show 70-75% of FL voters approve of full legalization. Fuck her and I hope the court shoves it up her patootie and breaks it off.

DeSantis ally takes bold stand against 2024 Pot Legalization vote


Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a close ally of Republican Gov Ron DeSantis, asked the state Supreme Court to nix a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize pot in the state.


The petition, dated Monday, comes less than a week after DeSantis, a 2024 candidate for president, said he did not support decriminalizing cannabis nationally, citing concerns about young people accessing the drug.

But it also came the same day that DeSantis signed a bill into law to allow people to access medical marijuana through telehealth. Alongside the law is another provision that would help more Black farmers receive licenses to participate in the cannabis industry.

Should the legalization effort move forward and should DeSantis secure the GOP nomination for president, he and pot could both be on the ballot in 2024.

The broader recreational legalization in Florida effort gathered enough signatures to put the question of pot legalization before voters, but it has to get a sign off from the state Supreme Court first, which decides whether the ballot question is clear enough for voters to understand and addresses just one subject.

Moody, in arguing against the sign off, said the ballot's language was "misleading to voters in several key respects" and was not "honest" with voters about the forthcoming changes.

She alleged that it didn't make clear that marijuana would remain illegal federally, though the ballot's language states the authorization of the measure "does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law."

"The rampant misinformation in the press and being peddled by the sponsor of this initiative about its effects makes clarity all the more pivotal," Moody wrote in her 49-page petition.

She also accused the authors of the ballot measure of suggesting that competition for cannabis would go up with authorization, a provision that would drive down prices. The power to license more distributors, however, only lies with the legislature and not with the ballot, she wrote.

In another argument, she said the Department of Health wouldn't have enough time to regulate the drug even though the ballot measure makes it sound as though it would happen right away.

The ballot, if passed, would authorize the drug for recreational purposes for people 21 and older to "possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories" and is being backed by Truelieve, a medical marijuana operator.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Drug Free America Foundation were outside entities opposing the ballot measure in briefs they filed.

Most voters support making cannabis legal, polling shows. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly authorized medical marijuana usage through a similar ballot measure, and they tend to be similarly successful in other states.

Despite DeSantis' definitive statement against cannabis legalization last week, his record on the issue has been mixed.

Soon after becoming governor in 2019, DeSantis successfully convinced the legislature to lift a state ban on the smokable form of the drug — a move meant to help the ballot initiative go into effect, and one that stunned the political class.

As a US Congressman, DeSantis voted in favor of spending bill amendments to protect state cannabis programs from federal interference. But the governor, who is also a Navy vet, voted against legislation that would allow doctors to recommend cannabis to patients.

Asked about cannabis support in 2022, DeSantis expressed some hesitancy on the issue and derided the "putrid" smell of the drug.
 
This is complete and utter fucking horse shit and is the second time this FL AG has tried to use ticky taky technical arguments to deprive the citizens of FL their right to express their desires via direct democracy referendum (and she was successful the first time).

At a minimum, the voters of FL need to kick this woman to the curb in the next election.

Florida attorney general targets company in Marijuana ballot fight

Florida Attorney General exposes misleading tactics in proposed Marijuana amendment, alleging favoritism towards Trulieve.​


Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office late Wednesday pumped up arguments against a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize recreational use of marijuana, saying the measure “misleads” voters in a way to benefit the state’s largest medical-marijuana operator, Trulieve.


Tallahassee-based Trulieve has contributed all but a fraction of the nearly $40 million raised by the Smart & Safe Florida political committee for the proposed “Adult Use of Marijuana” initiative, which would go on the 2024 ballot.


The committee, which is sponsoring the proposal, has submitted more than the nearly 900,000 signatures required to go before voters next year, but faces a final hurdle — Florida Supreme Court approval of the proposed ballot wording.


Lawyers for Moody, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Drug Free America Foundation have filed briefs arguing the Supreme Court should reject the proposal. Smart & Safe Florida’s attorneys last month called the state’s arguments a “thinly veiled policy agenda.”


In a brief filed late Wednesday, Moody’s office fired back and argued, in part, that the measure is misleading to voters in a manner that would help Trulieve continue its dominance in Florida’s legal cannabis market.


“This carefully curated ballot summary misleads in ways that, though sometimes subtle, are likely to influence voters — and to do so in a way that entrenches the sponsor’s monopolistic stranglehold on the marijuana market to the detriment of Floridians. The initiative should be stricken,” state Solicitor General Henry Whitaker wrote in the brief.


The summary that voters would see on the ballot says the proposed amendment “allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.”


The proposal also says it “applies to Florida law” and “does not change, or immunize violations of,federal law.”


But the state argued that the use of the word “allows” is misleading because “the amendment would not actually allow anything; all possession of marijuana would remain unlawful under federal law.”


A Smart & Safe Florida brief filed last month disputed those arguments.


“It strains credulity well past the breaking point to think that the average voter is unaware that marijuana is illegal at the federal level. That prohibition has been a major subject of national debate for years,” lawyers for the sponsor wrote on July 19.


Moody’s lawyers punched back Wednesday.


“In its pursuit of a larger customer base and greater profits, Trulieve has invited millions of Floridians to join it in reckless violation of federal criminal law,” Whitaker wrote.


Most Americans “cannot name a single Supreme Court justice,” the state’s brief said.


“If anything, most reasonable voters would not assume that a national corporation like Trulieve would openly and notoriously violate federal criminal law. That evidently is not true. … Trulieve may be reckless enough to stake an entire business model on the whims of federal prosecutors,” Moody’s attorneys wrote. “But it cannot invite Florida voters to permanently amend their governing charter by promising that the amendment will do something (‘allow’ recreational marijuana) that it will not do.”


A footnote in the sponsor’s July brief pointed out that the U.S. Department of Justice “across multiple presidential administrations” has “not targeted businesses or consumers who comply” with state marijuana laws.


“The notion that Floridians exercising their rights under the amendment will face any real threat of federal jeopardy is thus farfetched,” Smart & Safe Florida’s attorneys argued.


Moody’s office also targeted a part of the ballot summary that says the measure would allow current medical-marijuana operators, known as medical marijuana treatment centers, and other “state-licensed entities to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute” marijuana products and accessories.


The state argued the language is misleading because only licensed medical-marijuana operators would be entitled to participate in the recreational-use program, unless the Legislature expands the current licensing process.


“The summary, in short, falsely states that the proposed amendment, of its own force, expands beyond MMTCs (medical marijuana treatment centers) the businesses that can be licensed to engage in the marijuana trade in Florida. This misdirection was no doubt engineered by the sponsor to appeal to voters who wish to end MMTCs’ stranglehold on the state’s marijuana market. That bait-and-switch is misleading,” Moody’s lawyers argued.


But in a statement Wednesday, Smart & Safe Florida refuted the state’s position.


“We have the deepest respect for our state’s attorney general but feel the brief she submitted misses the mark. The Smart & Safe ballot measure takes a very strict and conservative approach and not only followed the court’s roadmap established in prior rulings but clearly limits the language to a single easy-to-understand subject. As such, we hope the court will stick to the current standards laid out in law and will give Floridians the chance to vote on this ballot item,” the statement said.


Trulieve also defended the proposal, which has drawn briefs in support from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Florida Medical Marijuana Business Association.


“The ballot language is clear, states the chief purpose of the amendment and – without a doubt – covers one and only one subject. For these reasons, we trust the court will agree that the voters of Florida should have the opportunity to vote to allow adults in Florida the freedom to use cannabis for their personal consumption,” Trulieve said in a statement Wednesday.


The court twice ruled that previous initiatives aimed at authorizing recreational use of marijuana did not meet constitutional muster. Under the Florida Constitution, ballot initiatives must not be confusing to voters and must address a single subject.


Lawyers for Safe & Smart Florida argued that, in drafting the 2024 proposal, they followed a “clear roadmap” laid out by the court in the previous rulings rejecting marijuana measures.


“Yet the attorney general now asks this court to suddenly change course, holding that the language previously approved — repeatedly and unanimously — is no longer sufficient, despite this court’s description of that language as the model for sponsors just two years ago,” they wrote in last month’s brief.


But the state’s attorneys urged justices to ignore their prior decisions and focus on the current measure.


“Anything less than searching review of a ballot summary risks the Florida Constitution becoming ‘the den of special interest groups,’” they wrote, citing a previous Florida Supreme Court ruling. “So while the sponsor has spent a small fortune (some $40 million) peddling its initiative to Floridians, there are far more important interests at play.”


In a brief written by former Justice Alan Lawson, the Florida Chamber of Commerce argued that the court should nix the proposal because it fails to meet the constitutional single-subject requirement. The Florida Chamber has a long history of opposing ballot initiatives and championed efforts to make it harder for measures to be placed on the ballot.
 

Ron DeSantis is making life tough for the Cannabis industry


While Florida activists fight to get a cannabis legalization ballot measure on the state's 2024 ballot, the state's government is making life harder for its medical marijuana industry.


Last month a bill that heightens eligibility requirements for industry workers and increases advertising regulation for the medical marijuana industry went into effect.


The bill removes exemptions from employment background screenings for people with felonies after three years have elapsed, misdemeanors after they've completed the terms of their sentence, and felonies that were reduced to misdemeanors.


So not only does it make it harder for the industry to find workers, but it also punishes previously incarcerated Floridians who may already have a tough time finding employment.


To further burden small business, the laws makes it so that fees for federal fingerprinting processing and retention have to be paid by the business, rather than the individual completing the background check.


Marijuana Moment points out that many marijuana convictions do result in misdemeanor and felony charges, so the bill hamstrings Floridians who have paid their debt to society over an issue that might not be an issue next year.


The law also prohibits any products or messages that promote recreational cannabis use, but doesn't specify what those products or messages entail.


Florida's medical marijuana program has grown by 71% over the past two years from 455,425 active patients in 2020 to 779,465 by the end of 2022.


In the background of all of this is the next year's ballot vote.


Since 1886 Florida has held direct voting for ballot measures to amend their constitution every year.


The Florida Supreme Court recently granted the state attorney general's request for more time to file a brief arguing to keep recreational legalization off of the 2024 ballot.


So not only is Ron DeSantis' administration going after small businesses and some of Florida's most vulnerable populations, but he also seeking to keep Floridians from even voting on the matter.
 
"it has one last hurdle to clear — a legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody."

The phrase "assault on democracy" has been bandied about quite a bit in recent years...mostly for partisan political purposes. But if you want to see what one really is, see this action by Moody who is working her ass off to deny the people of FL the right to vote on this issue. Now IMO, that's an assault on democracy.



Florida Recreational Marijuana initiative goes to state Supreme Court


Florida's Recreational Marijuana Ballot Measure Faces Legal Challenge.​


With more than a million valid signatures, a recreational marijuana legalization initiative seems poised to pop up on Florida’s 2024 ballot, but it has one last hurdle to clear — a legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody.


Moody filed the challenge against the measure asking the Florida Supreme Court to invalidate it on the grounds that voters wouldn’t be able to discern the legality of the drug at the state and federal level. While medical marijuana is legal in Florida for eligible patients, it remains federally illegal.


Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind the measure, has defended the measure’s clarity and stated that it should be up to voters to decide the issue.


The state Supreme Court is now slated to hear the case on Nov. 8. Here’s what Florida voters should know about the recreational marijuana measure.


What does Florida's new recreational marijuana ballot measure legalize?​


  • Adults 21 and older could purchase and possess up to three ounces of cannabis for personal use. The cap for marijuana concentrates would be five grams.
  • Medical cannabis dispensaries could “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute marijuana products and marijuana accessories to adults for personal use.”
  • The legislature would be authorized — but not required — to approve additional entities that are not currently licensed cannabis dispensaries.
  • The initiative specifies that nothing in the proposal prevents the legislature from “enacting laws that are consistent with this amendment.”
  • The amendment further clarifies that nothing about the proposal “changes federal law,” which seems to be an effort to avoid past legal challenges about misleading ballot language.
  • There are no provisions for home cultivation, expungement of prior records or social equity.
  • The measure would take effect six months following approval by voters.

What are Florida’s marijuana laws?​


While medical marijuana is legal in Florida, there are still many laws in place that prohibit the possession, selling and transporting of marijuana, marijuana products and accessories. NORML, a group that has advocated for cannabis since 1970, succinctly lays out Florida’s current marijuana laws.


Florida marijuana possession laws


Possession charges can have a wide range of penalties. Possessing 20 grams or less is a misdemeanor charge that could lead to one year of jail time and a $1,000 maximum fine. Possessing more than 20 grams becomes a felony and could result in up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Incarceration times go all the way up to 30 years and fines can reach as high as $200,00.


Possessing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park or other specified areas is a felony with a mandatory three-year jail sentence and fines up to $10,000.


Possession of paraphernalia is a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.


Florida marijuana sale laws​


Selling 20 grams of marijuana or less without remuneration is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Selling more than 20 grams is a felony charge punishable with jail time up to 30 years and $200,000 in fines, depending on the volume and whether the sale occurred within 1,000 feet of a school, park, college or other specified area.


What about hash and concentrates in Florida?​


Possession of hashish or concentrates and selling, manufacturing or delivering these products are felony crimes that can face up to 15 years in jail with fines ranging between $5,000 and $10,000.


Can I get a DUI after smoking or eating marijuana?​


All states criminalize driving under the influence of controlled substances. Laws regarding driving while impaired range depending on jurisdictions.


Where is marijuana legal in Florida?​


Some Florida municipalities have made efforts to reduce or eliminate local penalties for marijuana-related violations. NORML has identified over 120 cities throughout the country in the past decade that have passed ordinances reducing those penalties.


In Florida, 15 municipalities have enacted such laws:


  • Alachua County
  • Broward County
  • Cocoa Beach
  • Hallandale Beach
  • Key West
  • Miami Beach
  • Miami-Dade County
  • Orlando
  • Osceola County
  • Palm Beach County
  • Port Richey
  • Sarasota
  • Tampa
  • Volusia County
  • West Palm Beach County

Can you buy recreational marijuana in Florida now?​


No. Per Florida Statute 381.986, residents must have a medical marijuana card issued by the state after patients receive a recommendation from a certified physician.


Can you go into a dispensary without a medical marijuana card?​


No, you can’t walk into a medical marijuana dispensary in Florida without a card. However, there are a few exceptions.


Patients already registered in the state’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) registry who don’t have their medical marijuana card on their person can use their driver’s license instead.


Designated caregivers of qualified patients can get authorization to get a separate state caregiver ID card through a certification process. Starting on June 12, non-close relatives applying for a caregiver ID must complete a level 2 background screening through a Livescan Service Provider.


Can visitors buy marijuana in Florida?​


No. Florida does not accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards. Seasonal Florida residents qualify for a state medical marijuana card, provided they can show proof of residence and live in the state at least 31 consecutive days each year.


How can you get a medical marijuana card?​


Getting a medical marijuana card in Florida is a three-step process involving a diagnosis from a qualified physician for certain medical conditions, registering in Florida’s Medical Marijuana Use Registry and applying for a registry ID.


Step 1


Anyone interested in getting medical marijuana card should look and see if they have one of the qualifying medical conditions:


  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to the others listed.
  • A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification.
  • Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition.
The OMMU provides a tool where users can then search for a nearby qualified physician who can provide a diagnosis and recommendation.


Step 2


Once qualified, the patient’s physician will enter them into the registry. The patient must provide the physician with their email to receive a username and temporary password.


Step 3


Patients must then complete an electronic or paper application to receive an ID card. Once an application is approved, a physical ID card will be mailed to the patient. However, a physical medical marijuana ID card isn’t needed to shop at dispensaries. Patients can place orders with their driver’s license.
 
"one of the seven justices present, Justice Charles G. Canady, stating he was ‘baffled by the argument’,

Him and everybody else who has two brain cells to rub together. Fuck Moody and her attempts to deny the electorate their right to express their will.



Florida’s Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Adult Use Legalization Bill


Florida’s Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments on Wednesday as to whether a bill proposing adult-use cannabis legalisation should be included on the 2024 ballot.


As Business of Cannabis reported last month, the Adult Personal Use of Marijuana amendment was put forward by Smart & Safe Florida earlier this year, and successfully collected enough valid signatures to qualify for a 2024 general election ballot placement.


However, the proposals have already received significant pushback from the state’s Governor Ron DeSantis, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who sought to stop the bill in its tracks at Wednesday’s hearing.


Much of the arguments levelled against the bill centred around the language of the bill, which they claimed failed to make clear that cannabis was still federally illegal.


This argument did not appear to break through, with one of the seven justices present, Justice Charles G. Canady, stating he was ‘baffled by the argument’, Politico reported.


The Tallahassee Democrat similarly reported that justices seemed ‘sceptical’ of the criticism laid out against the bill, despite five of the seven justices being appointed by Gov. DeSantis.


Chief Justice Carlos Muniz is also understood to have pushed back against this argument, arguing that it was unreasonable to expect sponsors to write ‘convoluted’ explanations of licensing requirements, which will enable the states already established medical cannabis centres to begin selling for recreational purposes.


While there is no solid date set for a decision on whether this bill will appear on next year’s ballot, the Supreme Court has until April 1 to put forward a decision. If no decision is made by that time, the measure will be cleared to appear on the ballot.
 
"Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a petition in August to block it."

Well, then I think 2/3's of the voters need to kick this bitch to the curb in the next election.


Two-thirds of Florida voters back recreational Marijuana amendment

Across every category, a majority of Florida voters are positive about decriminalization.


It appears Sunshine Stater voters are still high on the prospect of legalizing recreational marijuana.


A new poll from the University North of Florida found two-thirds of registered voters would back a state constitutional amendment allowing adults to purchase and possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use — without a medical usage license.


While that result still represents strong interest in decriminalizing the popular drug, the level of support shown was slightly lower this time than in prior surveys the school conducted.


Pollsters from the UNF Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) questioned 716 residents sourced from the Florida voter file Nov. 6-26 and weighted data based on demographics and geographical strata to match the state’s voter population.


The poll had a 4.37-precentage-point margin of error.


Its finding: 67% percent of respondents said they would vote yes for a proposed constitutional amendment permitting people 21 and older to buy marijuana without a license. Twenty-eight percent indicated they were against such a change, and 5% either refused to answer the question or said they weren’t sure.


PORL posed a similar question to voters in Spring 2022 and 2023. In the first poll, 76% of those surveyed said they would support recreational marijuana. Just a year later, the number fell to 70%.


As for why the figure dropped again this time, PORL faculty director and political science professor Michael Binder said it likely was because of how the question was posed than waning approval.


“Unlike previous surveys when we simply asked if folks support or oppose legalization of recreational marijuana, this time we gave respondents the specifics of the proposed amendment,” he said in a statement. “Yet again, it looks like (the amendment) has a good chance of passing, if it makes it through the courts, and that is a very big ‘if.’”


Other details about the amendment the poll shared this time included that it would allow state-licensed entities to cultivate and sell marijuana products and accessories. It also made clear that the new rules would only apply to Florida law and would not change or immunize violations of federal law.


Across every category PORL divided answers into, a majority of respondents expressed positivity about decriminalization. That included 77% of Democrats, 53% of Republicans and 58% of voters with no party affiliation.


Fifty-five percent of men and 68% of women backed the change. So did 61% of voters without college degrees and 64% with them.


Broken down by race, 65% of Black and White respondents agreed marijuana should be legalized through the amendment, compared to 52% of Hispanics.


Opinions remained positive but varied between generations, though not necessarily how some might have predicted.


Voters 18-24 were most supportive, with 77% of respondents saying they wanted legal weed. But the second-most positive group were voters 55-64, of whom 71% said they’d vote yes on the amendment.


Sixty-three percent of voters 25-34 said the same, followed by 60% of voters 45-54, 57% of voters 35-44 and 56% of voters 65 and older, who accounted for the largest share of Floridians surveyed.


Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the initiative to allow the amendment — which would limit purchases to three ounces of marijuana and not include provisions for at-home growth — on the 2024 ballot.


The measure, sponsored by the group Safe & Smart Florida, has attracted more than 1 million valid signatures, enough to get it onto the ballot; but Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a petition in August to block it.


Moody has argued the measure, among other things, contains “misleading” language that doesn’t make clear how the proposed state allowance would square with the federal prohibition. She’s also expressed concern over regulation and how decriminalization will enrich cannabis giant Trulieve, which has invested more than $39 million in the Safe & Smart Florida political committee leading the legalization initiative.
 
And on and on it goes..."FL Supreme Court is expected to rule by 1 Apr". WTF can they be thinking about until Apr?


Florida inches closer to recreational Marijuana with 2024 ballot initiative


Florida May Vote on Adult Recreational Cannabis Use in November.​


A proposal that would legalize adult recreational cannabis use — and bring a massive influx of tax revenues — in Florida appears headed to the general election ballot in November.


In less than a decade, nearly half the United States — 24 states plus Washington, D.C., and Guam — has opted to approve adult recreational use of marijuana. More than a dozen other states, including Florida, have medical cannabis programs or have decriminalized weed, while only four states — South Carolina, Kansas, Wyoming and Idaho — maintain a fully illegal stance toward marijuana.


In the November 2023 elections, Ohio — which, like Florida, is a former swing state turned red — became the latest state to approve recreational cannabis use and thus welcome a new multibillion industry, not to mention the prodigious amount of tax revenue that it brings. Is that a sign of things to come in the Sunshine State?


A measure that would put a proposed recreational cannabis amendment on the 2024 general election ballot has garnered enough signatures to move forward and is currently being reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on it by April 1.


An organization called Smart and Safe Florida, backed by nearly $40 million in contributions from Trulieve, one of the largest providers of medical cannabis in Florida, sponsored the ballot initiative.


The Drug Free America Foundation and Florida Chamber of Commerce oppose the amendment, and in November Jeffrey DeSousa of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office argued before the Florida Supreme Court that the wording of the proposed amendment is confusing and would mislead voters. DeSousa, the state’s chief deputy solicitor general, stated Florida voters would struggle to understand that cannabis use and possession remains illegal under federal law. He also says the amendment would lead to less competition in the cannabis marketplace, raising the specter of large companies such as Trulieve using the measure as a springboard toward a monopolized industry.


The attorney general office’s position didn’t seem to resonate with the court, with Justice Charles Canady saying he was “baffled” by the state’s arguments against the amendment.


“I think they’re reaching,” says Charles Gallagher, a St. Petersburg attorney who’s been following the proposed amendment and believes it will not only appear on the ballot in November 2024 but also clear the 60% voter approval threshold that it needs to be enshrined into Florida law. “The argument that it’s not stating explicitly that, ‘Yes, this is going to be lawful under Florida law, but unlawful under federal law’ — I think the justices didn't buy that rationale.”


If past is prologue, then Gallagher’s bet appears to be a safe one. With 71% of the vote in 2016, Floridians overwhelmingly voted in favor of an amendment authorizing adult use of medical cannabis. Among states and territories that have approved recreational cannabis amendments, the measures’ average margin of victory, collectively, was 15.65%.


Although organized opposition to the proposed amendment has been scant so far, Gallagher, who handles insurance litigation, foreclosure defense, expects to see “significant campaigning and lobbying the public” after it’s officially on the ballot.


“You’re going to have a little more divisiveness,” he says. “(Medical) marijuana seems to be a different ideological issue than purely recreational, so maybe you don't hit 71%? I don't know — it’s a hard forecast to make.”


What isn’t difficult to predict is the financial impact that a legal recreational cannabis industry would have on Florida’s coffers. According to a study by the Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference, “Based on other states’ experiences, expected retail sales of non-medical marijuana would generate at least $195.6 million annually in state and local sales tax revenues once the retail market is fully operational, although the timing of this occurring is unclear.”


In Florida, sales of medical marijuana are tax exempt, so the Florida Legislature would likely have to create a new regulatory framework that would delineate medical and non-medical cannabis commerce. Lawmakers could also authorize more cannabis licenses, easing fears of a monopolized marketplace.


“The numbers we’re talking about are billion-dollar numbers, as far as economic impact is concerned,” Gallagher says. “That is significant, obviously, for our state. I think the states that have [approved adult recreational cannabis use] and experienced it are happy about it. It’s a phenomenal economic boost.”


Even if the amendment doesn’t pass in 2024, Gallagher expects proponents to keep trying — and eventually triumph. Florida’s foray into medical cannabis has been a success, and marijuana, in general, doesn’t inflame the fires of the culture wars the way it did decades ago, when it was stigmatized as a “gateway drug” for young people.


“We’re fighting about books in schools but we’re OK with [marijuana],” Gallagher says. “Nobody saw that coming. You don’t see the ideological pushback.”
 
They are claiming their poll shows 57% likely vote for versus the 60% needed by FL law for this to be enacted. But, zero mention of the margin of error. Take it for what little its worth.

Disraeli - "liars, damn liars, statistics"


Florida Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative Has Majority Support, But Not Enough To Pass, Chamber Of Commerce Poll Finds


The Florida Chamber of Commerce has released a new poll showing that a marijuana legalization initiative that may appear on the November ballot enjoys majority support from likely voters—but not quite enough to meet the state’s steep threshold for passage.


The business-focused organization shared the results of the survey it commissioned on Friday. It found that 57 percent of Floridians back the cannabis proposal, meaning it falls slightly short of the 60 percent that would be required to approve the constitutional amendment.


The chamber also said that the poll “finds voters less likely to support the amendment as they find about its impact on children and businesses,” but it has not released the language of the survey questions in response to Marijuana Moment’s request, so it’s unclear how they were framed.


For what it’s worth, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is on the record opposing the marijuana reform measure, which is currently under review in the Florida Supreme Court following a legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody (R).


An attorney representing the chamber participated in oral arguments before the court last year, seeking to invalidate the initiative from the ballot and prevent voters from having a chance to decide on it. A final ruling must be made in the case by April 1.


“With 144 amendments since its creation in 1968, Florida’s constitution has long been a target of special interest groups with agendas and recreational marijuana is no different,” the chamber’s president ,Mark Wilson, said
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in a press release. “The Florida Chamber continues to lead the fight it has fought for over 100 years against similar proposed amendments that could be addressed legislatively rather than through altering Florida’s foundational document.”


The poll which involved 600 likely voters and was conducted from December 27, 2023 to January 4, 2024, has a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.


Other previous polls have found that voters are well-positioned to pass the legalization initiative with more than enough support. For example, the University of North Florida put out a survey last month that showed 67 percent of voters back the proposal.


The multi-state marijuana company Trulieve has contributed
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more than $40 million to the Smart & Safe Florida campaign to date. The state attorney general has accused the company of supporting the measure in order to have a “monopolistic stranglehold” on the state’s cannabis market.


If approved, the measure would change the state Constitution to allow existing medical cannabis companies in the state like Trulieve to begin selling marijuana to all adults over 21. It contains a provision that would allow—but not require—lawmakers to take steps toward the approval of additional businesses. Home cultivation by consumers would not be allowed under the proposal as drafted.


Adults 21 and older would be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis, only five grams of which could be marijuana concentrate products. The three-page measure also omits equity provisions favored by advocates such as expungements or other relief for people with prior cannabis convictions.


Last week, a Republican Florida lawmaker preemptively filed a bill that would impose strict limitations on THC potency if the legalization measure is approved by voters.


Meanwhile, Florida officials said last month that they’ve arrested two paid canvassers charged with allegedly falsifying signatures on petitions to put the marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s 2024 ballot.


Economic analysts from the Florida legislature and the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) estimate that the marijuana legalization initiative would generate between $195.6 million and $431.3 million in new sales tax revenue annually if voters enact it. And those figures could increase considerably if lawmakers opted to impose an additional excise tax on cannabis transactions that’s similar to the ones in place in other legalized states.


The governor, who is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has maintained opposition to the policy change and said last summer that he would not move to federally decriminalize cannabis if elected. However, he said this week that he would still “respect the decisions that states make,” despite his personal opposition.


DeSantis also recently suggested that the increase in Florida’s medical cannabis patient population is partly due to people using the program as a “pretext” for recreational use.
 
In that case, he needs to tell his state Attorney General to STFU and quit arguing in front of FL Supreme Court that this referendum is invalid on minor technical wording grounds. Once again she is trying to over turn the expressed will of the electorate who signed this propose referendum and deserve the chance to vote it up or down. It should not be determined by Ashley fucking Moody

Florida To Vote On Marijuana Legalization On 2024 Ballot, DeSantis Suggests


Florida Governor Anticipates Supreme Court Approval for Adult-Use Marijuana Initiative, Setting Stage for 2024 Ballot.


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has stated that the Supreme Court will approve the initiative for adult-use marijuana initiative, which potentially can pave the way for the state to vote on legalization in the 2024 ballot.


If approved, the marijuana legalization initiative will be featured on November's ballot alongside the Presidential elections, with Florida potentially joining over 24 U.S. states that have legalized adult-use marijuana despite federal illegality.


Days before withdrawing from the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race and endorsing Donald Trump, DeSantis, inquired by cannabis lobbyist Don Murphy, discussed the possibility of marijuana legalization appearing on the Florida ballot, as first reported by Marijuana Moment.


"I think the court is going to approve that," DeSantis reportedly stated during his final campaign event in New Hampshire, "so it'll be on the ballot."


Despite his opposition to the reform and his previous commitment not to federally decriminalize marijuana during his presidential campaign, DeSantis said that voters will have the opportunity to decide on the issue. Furthermore, when recently questioned about a federal ban on firearm ownership for marijuana users, DeSantis argued that such a restriction infringes on the Second Amendment, attempting to position himself as a stauncher defender of gun rights.


In Florida, constitutional amendments started by citizens need signatures equivalent to 8% of the votes cast in the last presidential election. Additionally, there's a condition: these signatures must include 8% of district-wide votes from the last presidential election in at least half of the state's congressional districts (14 out of 28). The signatures need to be collected and verified by February 1 of the election year for the initiative to be eligible for the ballot, and they remain valid until February 1 of an even-numbered year.


After the signature collection, the secretary of state presents the proposal to the Florida Attorney General and the Financial Impact Estimating Conference (FIEC). The attorney general subsequently requests an advisory opinion from the Florida Supreme Court. This opinion covers aspects like the measure's adherence to the single-subject rule, appropriateness of the title and summary, and potential invalidity under the U.S. Constitution.


The ballot initiative in Florida seeking to legalize adult-use marijuana has garnered sufficient verified signatures for it to be included on the November ballot, according to the state data.


Smart & Safe Florida filed the ballot measure, which received approval for signature gathering on August 23, 2022. State officials confirmed on June 1 that the campaign had submitted enough valid signatures to meet the distribution requirement in 14 of the state's 28 congressional districts. The Florida Division of Elections reported that the group had submitted 1,033,770 valid signatures.


Under the proposed amendment, individuals aged 21 and older will be allowed to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and accessories. It also grants Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and other state-licensed entities the authority to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute adult-use marijuana products. The amendment applies to Florida law without altering or shielding violations of federal law. It establishes possession limits for personal use, enables consistent legislation, and provides definitions for terms.


As reported by MJBizDaily, the Florida-based multi-state operator Trulieve Cannabis holds a prominent position with 131 locations across the state.


In total, 11 states could potentially legalize marijuana in 2024 through the November ballot, with some currently running active campaigns and others already registered for the 2024 ballot.


Adult-use marijuana is currently illegal in Florida, and possession of up to 20 grams constitutes a misdemeanor, leading to potential penalties of up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1000, and the suspension of the offender's driver's license, although some cities and counties have implemented reforms, reducing penalties.


Medical use was legalized in 2016 through a constitutional amendment known as Amendment 2. The initiative, securing 71% of the vote, was successfully approved during the ballot.
 
While 30% THC is certainly respectable (and light years better than the crap I've smoked over most of my 71 years), I do not support THC percentage restrictions. It makes no sense. All people are going to do is consume more...smoke more flower, eat more edibles, etc.

And I find, unlike alcohol, that MJ is sort of self-moderating. I reach a point of effects where its enough and I don't want anymore. Alcohol so reduces inhibitions that the more you drink the less likely you are to restrict your intake. More bluntly, IME once you get a bit drunk, having another drink seems like the only good idea. No so, IME, with MJ.

And what is a grower to do when their new crop tests out at 31%? It ain't like you can just dial up the percentage you want.

"In addition to the revised restriction on smokable marijuana, Massullo’s measure would also impose a 60 percent THC limit on all other marijuana products and set a 10-milligram THC serving size for edibles, with no more than 200 mg per package."​

And what's up with this shit? People are just going to eat a bunch of gummies or even extract and make their own cannabutter, etc. And exactly what "science" are they following on this or are they just pulling these numbers out of their ass?




Florida Lawmakers Approve Bill To Place THC Limit On Recreational Marijuana Ahead Of Possible Legalization Ballot Vote



With an adult-use marijuana legalization measure potentially headed for Florida’s ballot this November, Lawmakers on the state’s House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee approved an amended version of a measure that would preemptively limit THC in recreational cannabis products.
Before advancing the bill, HB 1269, the panel first adopted an amendment from its sponsor, Rep. Ralph Massullo (R) significantly raising the proposed cap on THC for marijuana flower to 30 percent, up from 10 percent in the bill as originally introduced.
Members then voted 13–4 to report the bill favorably.
Petition to decriminalize marijuana in Dallas

“Due to a variety of reasons, we’re only at the beginning of understanding the potential long-term benefits and harms of high-potency THC marijuana products,” Massullo told subcommittee members, noting that his proposed limits “will only take affect if the constitutional amendment is adopted.”


“I’m not going to tell you my opinion on recreational marijuana,” he said before the panel vote
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, “but I will say this: We are tasked with keeping the public safe. It’s important that we think about that with a long-term vision and not be reactive.”



As more states have legalized marijuana and highly concentrated THC products become more widely available, some have raised concerns about apparent associations between high-THC products and mental health problems, especially in developing brains.


In addition to the revised restriction on smokable marijuana, Massullo’s measure would also impose a 60 percent THC limit on all other marijuana products and set a 10-milligram THC serving size for edibles, with no more than 200 mg per package.



Despite the subcommittee advancing the bill, some members expressed concerns with the proposal.


The panel’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Robin Bartleman (D), said she was voting against the bill because “I don’t believe we should be piecemealing this.” Instead, she urged colleagues to prepare to adopt “a more comprehensive package” that includes a suite of adult-use cannabis regulations.


“I’d rather wait and deal with everything at once,” Bartleman said.


Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D) expressed similar concerns. While she applauded the bill for “being visionary and looking forward,” she said THC caps were just one of the things lawmakers would need to address if voters approve recreational marijuana.


“How are we going to regulate that? Who’s going to get those licenses? Is it going to be in every convenience store?” she asked. “I think there are many, many things that we need to talk about and discuss, and this is just a little bit premature for me.”



Two other lawmakers said they had reservations but would nevertheless support the proposal, especially in light of the increased THC cap on marijuana flower.


“Oftentimes, you know, people are driven to the illicit marketplace. It’s not regulated at all,” said Rep. Gallop Franklin II (D), noting that hazardous adulterants in unregulated products can cause more harm than THC itself.


Rep. Adam Anderson (R), another yes vote, said an unintended consequence of low THC limits could simply be people consuming more marijuana “to get the effects that they want”—a concept known as self-titration.



“They’re going to be smoking more and more of the plant, which might have other additives and other materials that could potentially be harmful,” he said.


Anderson said he decided to support the amended bill
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because he felt it’s “our responsibility as lawmakers to be proactive.”


“I commend your efforts to get ahead of this and being productive and sending some guidance out to the industry of what this policy will look like,” he told Massullo.


The bill, introduced by Massullo last month, would take effect 30 days after voters pass any constitutional amendment to enact legalization.


Florida’s medical cannabis dosage limits, meanwhile,—which were revised under controversial rules adopted in 2022, despite pushback from then-Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D)—are not based on the percentage of THC in a given product.



While the legalization measure itself has not yet officially qualified for November’s ballot, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) recently predicted a favorable legal outcome for activists in the Supreme Court in the face of a challenge from the attorney general who is seeking to block the vote.


“I think the court is going to approve that,” the governor said at his final campaign event in New Hampshire last month, “so it’ll be on the ballot.”


Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) has asked the court to invalidate the measure, despite activists collecting nearly one million signatures for ballot placement. The state official previously successfully petitioned justices to prevent a 2022 legalization initiative from receiving voter consideration.



That won’t be the case this round, according to the governor. While he opposes the reform—and pledged not to federally decriminalize marijuana if elected president when he was running—he says voters will get a chance to decide on the issue this time.


The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case against the Smart & Safe Florida campaign last November, but it has not issued a ruling yet. It will need to do so by April 1.


DeSantis also weighed in on another relevant cannabis policy issue last week when he separately told Murphy that he doesn’t believe the federal gun ban for state-legal marijuana consumers is constitutional. Florida’s former agriculture commission, Nikki Fried, brought a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the rule, though the governor did not get involved.



The Florida Chamber of Commerce released a poll last month showing that the reform proposal enjoys majority support from likely voters—but not quite enough to meet the state’s steep 60 percent threshold for passage.


That said, other previous polls have found that voters are well positioned to pass the legalization initiative with more than enough support. For example, the University of North Florida put out a survey last month that showed 67 percent of voters back the proposal.


The multi-state marijuana company Trulieve has contributed
1706974060218.png
more than $40 million to the Smart and Safe Florida campaign to date. The state attorney general has accused the company of supporting the measure in order to have a “monopolistic stranglehold” on the state’s cannabis market.
 
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So, this article needs a bit of editing. First and foremost, Moody...the FL AG...is arguing that the referendum does NOT comply with all FL legal requirements...vice arguing that it does as misstated below.

And what about this...."the Florida Supreme Court considers whether an Adult Personal Use of Marijuana constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot in the fall." Just how fucking long does it take them to read the ballot initiative and determine if its language conforms to FL constitutional requirements. This is fucking absurd. Augments were made before the court early last Nov. So....what's the hold up?

Up in smoke: THC caps for adult-use Marijuana dead this Session



The legislation sought to impose potency limits in the event voters choose to legalize the product.​


An effort to cap THC levels in marijuana if Florida voters legal it for adult personal use is dead this Legislative Session.


The Senate Health Policy Committee bill (SB 7050) emerged earlier this month in the upper chamber. The effort to cap delta-9 caps had moved out of its first stop on a 7-3 vote.


But it never found space on a Senate Fiscal Policy agenda. That committee’s final meeting is Tuesday morning.


Just as that committee declined to consider a controversial defamation bill, the THC caps appear to have burned out before advancing to the Senate floor.


A companion bill (HB 1269) had made it through all committee stops in the House, but with similar language, not identical.


Since the Senate bill made it through at least one committee stop in the Senate, the upper chamber technically could take up the House bill for consideration, but only after the legislation passes off the floor of the lower chamber.


But Senate President Kathleen Passidomo has signaled she would want a Senate committee vetting any House bills taken up. There are new just days left in the 60-day Session, and no more Senate committee meetings are expected that could hear the bill.


House sponsor Rep. Ralph Massullo, a Lecanto Republican, confirmed to POLITICO that the bill is dead this year. “I believe the product we crafted was sound,” he told the outlet.


The bill was considered as the Florida Supreme Court considers whether an Adult Personal Use of Marijuana constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot in the fall. Safe & Sound Florida has collected enough signatures to qualify. While Attorney General Ashley Moody has argued the measure complies with all requirements of state law, Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he believes the high court will approve the ballot language.


Massullo’s legislation would have put caps on THC levels in the event voters approve marijuana for personal use. His bill would have said marijuana in smokable form could have a THC potency no greater than 30%. The legislation would prohibit multiserving edibles from containing more than 200 milligrams of THC and a single-serving edible from containing more than 10 mg.


Any other products could not have a THC potency of greater than 60%.


The House bill also would have removed a sunset provision in current law that repeals the current medical marijuana program law effective six months after a marijuana or cannabis constitutional amendment is adopted.
 
The title of this article is highly misleading....the FL Supreme Court has NOT yet issued a ruling. What is at issue is the language of the referendum and if it meets FL constitutional requirements for same. And the court has had this before them for how damn long? Seriously, the referendum statement isn't that complex.

Full txt of the referendum can be found here




Florida Supreme Court Decides on Recreational Cannabis


Florida's Impending Decision on Recreational Cannabis: Legal, Political, and Economic Implications.​


  1. Florida’s Supreme Court is close to ruling on the recreational cannabis ballot language, potentially allowing Florida voters to decide.
  2. Florida’s journey towards legalizing recreational cannabis faces legal, political, and societal hurdles, reflecting broader national debates.
  3. If passed, Florida’s recreational cannabis amendment could transform the state’s legal and economic landscape, impacting various sectors.
As Florida’s Supreme Court deliberates on the language of a proposed amendment for legalizing recreational cannabis, the state stands at a crossroads that could significantly alter its social, legal, and economic landscape. This decision, expected imminently and before April 1st, could allow Florida voters to join the growing number of states embracing recreational cannabis, subject to a 60% approval threshold. The potential shift in Florida’s stance on cannabis echoes wider national conversations around drug policy, regulation, and the impacts of legalization.


Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside other political figures and organizations, has expressed skepticism and opposition to the proposal, citing concerns over its broad language and potential regulatory implications. Critics, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, argue the amendment could mislead voters on several fronts. Conversely, advocates, supported by the financial backing of cannabis companies, argue for the economic and social benefits of legalization, pointing to the potential for increased tax revenues and reduced legal penalties for cannabis use.


The debate in Florida mirrors larger trends across the United States, where states have adopted a patchwork of cannabis laws reflecting diverse public opinions and political landscapes. Florida’s decision comes amid a complex backdrop of previous rejections of similar proposals, evolving public sentiment, and recent legislative actions concerning cannabis and its derivatives. The outcome could serve as a bellwether for future legalization efforts in Florida and beyond.


Supporters of the amendment emphasize the importance of regulation, envisioning a system where cannabis use is restricted from public spaces, akin to existing laws for tobacco and alcohol. They advocate for a balanced approach that respects individual freedoms while addressing public health and safety concerns. This perspective suggests a path forward that could reconcile the divergent views on cannabis legalization in Florida, highlighting the amendment’s potential to serve as a model for sensible drug policy reform.


The impending decision by Florida’s Supreme Court and the subsequent voter response will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications. It will influence not only the state’s legal framework for cannabis but also the broader national discourse on drug legalization, regulation, and societal norms. As Florida brings this contentious issue to the forefront this week, the outcome could reflect changing attitudes towards cannabis and shape the state’s future in profound ways.
 

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