Smart & Safe Florida has reignited its effort to legalize recreational marijuana, just one day after Governor Ron DeSantis convened a Special Session addressing petition fraud. The group filed a new ballot initiative aiming to secure a spot on the 2026 ballot.

Similar to the groups 2024 proposal, Amendment 3, the new initiative would legalize marijuana and marijuana products (edibles, concentrates, etc.) for those 21 and older, establishing possession limits while maintaining restrictions such as prohibiting public smoking (language was added to the new initiative to ensure that public consumption is explicitly prohibited), banning child-attractive marketing, and retaining penalties for driving under the influence. The amendment also grants Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers the authority to grow, sell, and distribute marijuana to adults and calls for licensing new non-medical marijuana businesses.

In the November election, Amendment 3 garnered nearly 56% of the vote, falling short of the 60% threshold required for passage (given it was a constitutional amendment). Despite this setback, it was the most expensive ballot initiative in the nation that year, with over 965,000 petition signatures collected to place it on the ballot.

Governor DeSantis has been a vocal opponent of marijuana legalization. During the previous campaign, state agencies under his direction issued warnings about the potential public health risks. His recent push to address petition fraud has drawn criticism from legislative leaders, who signaled they will resist any attempt by the Governor to dictate their agenda.

Smart & Safe Florida’s renewed efforts signal another high-stakes battle over marijuana legalization in the Sunshine State.

Can find the full text of the new initiative by clicking here.

House Bill 75, a measure to legalize recreational cannabis for everyone 21 and older, is set for a public hearing on January 23 at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Rooms 202-204.

The hearing will be held by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, which will hold a hearing on a different legalization bill —House Bill 198— at 1:30pm on the same day.

Filed last month by State Representative Kevin Verville (R), HB 75 would remove all criminal penalties for marijuana possession and cultivation for those 21+.
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The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR), in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), has issued a health and safety advisory regarding potentially contaminated regulated marijuana flower produced by Levels IV Inc and SKL Holdings III LLC.

The advisory highlights batches found to exceed acceptable limits of Total Yeast and Mold as defined by Colorado Marijuana Rule 4-215.

The advisory applies to harvest batches sold between December 28, 2023, and December 11, 2024. Consumers in possession of affected products are urged to destroy them or return them to the store of purchase for proper disposal. Any adverse health effects from consuming these products should be reported to the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) using the MED Reporting Form.
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Congressmember Eleanor Holmes Norton has introduced H.R. 51, a bill to admit Washington, D.C., as the 51st state of the Union.

Norton, who serves as D.C.’s delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives, has long championed statehood for the district, which has a population greater than Vermont and Wyoming. Under current law, Norton can introduce bills and vote in House committees but does not have a vote on the full House floor, highlighting the district’s lack of full representation in Congress. They also don’t have a member of the United States Senate.

The bill has already garnered 162 cosponsors, making it the most widely supported pieces of legislation in the 2025-2027 session of Congress, with nearly 500 bills already filed. This impressive support represents 75% of all House Democrats, who currently hold 215 seats. No Republicans are sponsoring the measure.
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New Hampshire State Representative Kevin Verville (R) has introduced House Bill 528, legislation that would legalize psilocybin for those 21 and older.

Dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Filed today, the bill has been referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee for review. The measure “establishes that it is not an offense for a person 21 years of age or older to obtain, purchase, transport, possess, or use psilocybin”, according to its official analysis.

Specifically, the measure states that “Any person under 21 years of age who obtains, purchases, transports, possesses, or uses psilocybin shall be subject to the penalties in RSA 318-B:26.”
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Nearly a decade after Florida voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana, the first dispensary has officially opened within Miami city limits.

Ayr Wellness inaugurated its Midtown location at 3160 N. Miami Ave. on Friday, January 10, marking a significant milestone in a city that has long resisted the presence of dispensaries.

“This has been a five-plus-year process since we started planning this particular dispensary,” said Rob Vanisko, vice president of public engagement for Ayr Wellness, in an interview with the Miami New Times. “From lease signing to all the approvals to the appeals to actually be able to get this open has been quite the process.”
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Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has unveiled plans to allocate tax revenue from medical marijuana sales and licensing to fund free school meals across the state.

“I’ve already announced that Arkansas will participate in summer EBT this year. And today, I’m announcing my plan to use medical marijuana money to make both this program and our free lunch and breakfast programs financially sustainable for years to come”, said Sanders in her State of the State address.

Sanders said “We will also use those funds to make school breakfasts in Arkansas completely free for ay student that chooses to participate.”
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Legislation allowing on-site cannabis consumption establishments and regulated cannabis events has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Maryland Senate.

Senate Bill 215 has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Hearing on January 30 at 1pm. Companion measure House Bill 132 has been assigned to the House Economic Matters Committee, but not yet scheduled for a public hearing.

The legislation establishes detailed regulations for on-site consumption establishments, initially limiting license applications to social equity applicants until mid-2028. These establishments would be authorized to distribute, repackage, and process marijuana products, including cannabinoid beverages, exclusively for on-site consumption. However, indoor smoking of marijuana would remain prohibited. Local jurisdictions would have the authority to regulate operating hours, enforce zoning restrictions, or entirely ban these establishments.
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