Florida Votes to Reject Cannabis Legalization

In a closely watched vote, Florida voters recently rejected Amendment 3, which aimed to legalize recreational cannabis for adults.

Despite substantial support from Floridians and a multi-million dollar campaign led by Trulieve, the state’s largest medical cannabis company, the amendment failed to reach the 60% supermajority required by Florida law to pass, with 55.9% voting in favor and 44.2% against.

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Trulieve’s Costly Florida Campaign

Trulieve, a leading Florida cannabis company based in Tallahassee, invested heavily in the campaign supporting Amendment 3, spending at least $144.5 million. This campaign’s failure has been described as a “nightmare scenario” for Trulieve, which had relied on the measure to expand the adult-use market. Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers expressed pride in the effort, emphasizing the importance of continuing the fight to ensure safe cannabis access in Florida.

The defeat, however, reflects a broader conservative resistance to cannabis legalization in the state. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a vocal opponent, argued that the amendment primarily served the interests of large cannabis companies like Trulieve.

“Most Floridians voted in favor of recreational marijuana legalization for adults,” noted the Smart & Safe Florida campaign, which organized the effort for Amendment 3. Although acknowledging the absence of a supermajority, they expressed hope to work with state leaders on future cannabis policy.

Conservative Barriers in Florida and the Broader National Landscape

The rejection of Amendment 3 in Florida mirrors a larger trend in conservative states where cannabis legalization measures have faced substantial opposition. In early 2023, Oklahoma also voted against a similar initiative, while states like Ohio and Maryland have recently moved forward with legalization.

David Culver, head of policy for the U.S. Cannabis Council, commented, “Smart & Safe Florida ran a historic, bipartisan campaign that garnered majority support from Floridians… but Florida requires a supermajority, and the state governor spent tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to defeat the measure.”

Culver remained optimistic, emphasizing that the significant pro-legalization sentiment in Florida could eventually lead to reform.

The failure of Amendment 3 means the status quo remains, limiting cannabis use in Florida to medical purposes. Currently, 20 “Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers” (MMTC), including major players like Ayr Wellness, Curaleaf, Green Thumb Industries, and Trulieve, operate nearly 700 dispensaries statewide. However, as the number of patients using medical cannabis rises, additional licenses may be issued to meet growing demand.

For the approximately 73 applicants who have been awaiting an MMTC license since 2023, the regulatory landscape remains uncertain. The Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use has yet to set a timeline for processing applications or issuing licenses, despite high entry costs for applicants.

Other Cannabis Votes Across the United States

Three other U.S. states besides Florida also voted on recreational or medical cannabis legalization, with Nebraska voting in favor of legalizing medical cannabis while North Dakota and South Dakota rejected adult-use cannabis legalization.

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(Featured image by apalapala (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr)

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