A campaign to put a marijuana legalization initiative on the November, 2024 ballot in Florida has submitted over 841,000 signatures from registered voters, over 90% of their goal.
According to the Florida Division of Elections as of the end of April the Smart & Safe Florida campaign has submitted 841,130 valid signatures on their marijuana initiative. This is just 50k signatures short of the 891,523 required to put their proposal on the 2024 general election ballot.
The initiative would allow those 21 and older “to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.” Licensed marijuana retail outlets would be allowed to distribute the plant, with any of the state’s licensed medical-marijuana dispensaries allowed to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute such products and accessories.”
According to the poll released in March by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida, just 29% of Florida voters oppose legalizing marijuana, with 70% in favor and just 1% undecided. This is important given the fact that based on Florida law the initiative will need 60% support in order to be enacted into law.
In February Florida State Senator Victor Torre filed legislation that would also legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older. Senate Bill 1576 would make the personal possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana legal in Florida for everyone 21 and older, while also allowing them to grow up to six marijuana plants. The measure would also establish a “Division of Cannabis Management” in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that would be in charge of overseeing the legal marijuana market. Thus far the proposal has been stalled in the Senate.
Senate Bill 1576 has thus far stalled in committee.
