Florida Rejects Measure to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

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Gov. Ron DeSantis had urged voters to reject the measure.

A push to legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida failed on Nov. 5 as voters rejected a ballot initiative to that effect.

At present, the state only authorizes the use of medicinal marijuana. Amendment 3 would have made it legal for adults ages 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana and use the drug recreationally.

By 9:30 p.m. on Election Day, with 92 percent of the vote in, the proposal had received 55.8 percent of the vote. It needed a 60 percent majority to pass.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana President Kevin Sabet heralded the measure’s failure as “one of Big Marijuana’s biggest defeats yet” in a statement.

“Floridians have dealt a remarkable blow to one of the largest commercial marijuana companies in the U.S. and others in the addiction industry,” said Sabet, who served as White House drug policy adviser under the Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama administrations.

“With the rejection of Amendment 3, Floridians have taken a firm stance against the dangerous drugs the pot profiteers tried to convince the public are harmless.”

In the final weeks of election season, ads encouraging Floridians to support Amendment 3 dominated the airwaves. At the same time, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis toured the state warning that the measure was not as it seemed.

“This amendment was written and put on the ballot and is attempting to be passed because of one mega marijuana company,” the governor said at an Oct. 30 news conference in Tampa.

The amendment was largely bankrolled by Trulieve, the state’s largest medical marijuana operator, with 159 dispensaries statewide. The company is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, but has made Quincy, Florida, its home base.

DeSantis accused Trulieve of being behind the drafting of the amendment, saying it poured $141 million into promoting the initiative. The publicly traded company’s goal, DeSantis alleged, was to “maximize profits” for its shareholders, not expand the freedoms of Floridians.

The governor said that the amendment would expand the right to possess and smoke marijuana, “but only if you buy it from them. They do not give you the right to grow your own marijuana in this amendment.”

Trulieve is suing Florida’s Republican Party, alleging defamation over ads targeting the amendment.

“Tonight, a strong majority of Floridians voted in support of legalizing recreational marijuana for adults,” Smart and Safe Florida, the amendment’s yes campaign, said in a statement.

“While the results of Amendment 3 did not clear the 60 percent threshold, we are eager to work with the governor and legislative leaders who agree with us on decriminalizing recreational marijuana for adults, addressing public consumption, continuing our focus on child safety, and expanding access to safe marijuana through home grow.”