Florida’s House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee has given approval to legislation that would place a cap on the amount of THC recreational marijuana is allowed to have, even though recreational marijuana is not yet legal in the state.
The committee voted 13 to 4 to pass House Bill 1269, sponsored by Representative Ralph Massullo (R). Initially the measure would have place a 10% cap on the amount of THC allowed in dried marijuana, but the measure was amended to raise the cap to 30%. The legislation would also establish a 60% THC limit on marijuana concentrates, and a limit of 10mg of THC per serving size for edibles.
The committee approved the measure in anticipation of voters legalizing recreational marijuana this November.
Last summer the Florida Division of Elections confirmed that the Smart & Safe Florida campaign submitted well more than enough signatures on their initiative to legalize recreational marijuana, allowing it to appear on the November, 2024 presidential election ballot.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is currently challenging the initiative in court, arguing it should not be allowed to appear on the ballot. In November the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from both the attorney general and proponents of the legalization initiative. The court has not ruled on the issue, but they must do so by April 1.
Last month at a campaign stop Governor Ron DeSantis said “I think the court is going to approve that. So it’ll be on the ballot.”
The amendment in question 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.”
A Florida Chamber of Commerce poll released earlier this month found that 57% of voters in the state support legalizing marijuana for all uses. Polling released late last year by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found support for legalization to be 10% higher, at 67%.
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