As of the end April, Florida marijuana activists had collected 841.130 signatures in support of a ballot initiative legalizing marijuana. This is about 94 percent of the required number to bring the issue before the voters next year.
According to the monthly signature data provided by the Florida Division of Elections which updates the petition count on the measure each month at the end, the legalization campaign appears well-positioned to meet the 891 523 signatures mandate by the month’s end.
The measure passed a major hurdle at the end of January. It was able to get enough signatures for the state Supreme Court to review the language of the measure. This analysis is still in progress.
The campaign had crossed the threshold of 420,000 signatures by the end of the month of February. As of March , the campaign had 635 961 valid signatures.
If the court determines that the initiative meets these standards, the campaign will only need to turn in enough a href=”https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/initdetail.asp?account=83475&seqnum=2″ rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>signatures/a> to qualify for ballot placement–which it is very close to doing at The campaign only needs to submit enough Signatures if the court finds that the initiative meets these standards. It is close to achieving this goal at this time.
The court has rejected previous attempts to put adult-use legalization in Florida on the ballot.
Smart & Safe Florida which submitted the legal cannabis measure last summer is funded almost exclusively by the largest medical cannabis operator in the state, Trulieve. Trulieve provided the initial seed money for the campaign and has contributed at least 25 million dollars to the effort.
The measure, if approved, would amend the state Constitution so that existing medical cannabis companies like Trulieve in the state could begin selling marijuana for all adults older than 21. The measure contains a clause that allows, but does not force, lawmakers to move forward with the approval of new businesses. The proposal would prohibit home cultivation by consumers.
Adults 21 years and older could purchase and possess cannabis up to an ounce, of which only five grams would be marijuana concentrate products. The three-page proposal also excludes equity provisions that are favored by supporters, such as expungements and other reliefs for people who have prior cannabis convictions.
A survey published in March showed that 70% of Florida voters support the idea of passing constitutional amendments to legalize marijuana.
The state Supreme Court has rejected subsequent attempts by Make It Legal Florida, and Sensible Florida to put broader legalization measures on the ballot. They ruled the proposed language was misleading, invalidating the measures.
What would the Smart & Safe Florida initiative for marijuana legalization accomplish?
Adults over 21 could buy and possess one ounce of marijuana for personal use. Cannabis concentrates are limited to five grams.
Medical cannabis dispensaries can “acquire and cultivate marijuana, process it, manufacture marijuana products, and distribute marijuana accessories for adult personal use.”
The Legislature would have the authority, but not be required to approve any additional entities not licensed as cannabis dispensaries.
The initiative states that the proposal does not prevent the legislature from “passing laws consistent with this amendment”.
The amendment clarifies further that nothing in the proposal “changes federal laws,” which appears to be an attempt to avoid previous legal challenges regarding misleading ballot language.
No provisions are made for home cultivation, the expungement or social equity of previous records.
Six months after the vote, the measure will come into effect.
This is the full text for the title and summary of the ballot:
The law allows adults over 21 to purchase or use marijuana products or marijuana accessories, whether for personal non-medical consumption, such as smoking, ingestion or other methods. It also permits Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and other state licensed organizations to cultivate, manufacture, process, sell and distribute these products and accessories. Florida law only; federal law is not changed or affected. Limits personal possession. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.”
If the cannabis reform measure makes it to the ballot in 2024, it would need to receive at least 60% of Florida voters’ approval to become law.
A poll conducted in 2021 showed that the majority of Florida voters (59%) supported legalizing marijuana for adult use. This is a narrow margin, and advocates will need to work hard if this measure passes.
Activists who are not directly involved with the Smart & Safe Florida Campaign said that last year they were exploring a plan to let voters decide about what they hope to be a complementary measure allowing adults to grow cannabis at home.
Senators celebrate bipartisan marijuana banking bill reintroduction
Photo by Mike Latimer.
The first time Marijuana Moment published the post Florida Marijuana activists close in on signature requirement to put legalization on 2024 ballot.
