Florida’s Amendment 3 Fails: What’s Next for Recreational Marijuana?

Florida‘s Amendment 3, which aimed to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, has failed to secure the necessary 60% of the vote to pass. The amendment garnered about 56% of the vote, falling short of the required threshold.

The measure, supported primarily by the marijuana company Trulieve, would have allowed adults to buy and use up to three ounces of marijuana. Trulieve donated over $100 million to the legalization effort, and the group Smart & Safe Florida collected more than 1 million petitions from Florida voters to get the amendment on the ballot.

Opposition to the amendment was significant, with Governor Ron DeSantis holding news conferences to speak out against it and state agencies running anti-marijuana ads. DeSantis argued that Florida already has legal marijuana through its medical marijuana program, suggesting that those who want it can already obtain it with a medical card.

Currently, only individuals with medical marijuana cards can legally purchase and use marijuana in Florida. To obtain a medical card, patients must undergo an in-person exam by a physician and be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition such as cancer, epilepsy, or chronic nonmalignant pain.

Despite the failure of Amendment 3, advocates for recreational marijuana can try again in future election cycles. The process, however, has become more challenging and costly due to recent changes made by Florida lawmakers.