When Florida voters cast their ballots in the 2024 electionsthey have the opportunity to decide whether the state will legalize marijuana for recreational use. They can express their position by voting “yes” or “no” on Amendment 3, which aims to amend the Florida Constitution.
Here’s what you need to know about the ballot measure, which is one of them six amendments Florida voters are considering this election.
What is Amendment 3?
Amendment 3 allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase and use marijuana for personal, non-medical reasons. It sets limits on how much people can legally carry – up to 85 grams of marijuana or 5 grams of marijuana concentrate.
It would also allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell marijuana to recreational users. State-licensed companies could be allowed to grow, process and distribute the product.
A “yes” vote on the amendment supports legalizing recreational marijuana for people 21 and older, while a “no” vote supports maintaining the system that makes marijuana available only for medical use.
The amendment must receive at least 60% of the votes to be adopted. If so, Florida will join 24 other states in approving recreational marijuana use. However, recreational marijuana use would still be illegal at the federal level, which could cause legal complications.
If the measure passes, only medical marijuana treatment centers and other state-licensed facilities would initially be allowed to sell recreational marijuana. Ultimately, new legislation could allow licensing for other companies.
Opinion Polls on Amendment 3
A CBS News/YouGov poll in May, it showed that 56% of likely voters would vote “yes” on Amendment 3, while 30% would vote “no.” Fourteen percent remained undecided.
More recently, in August, a Florida Atlantic University (FAU) poll found that 56% of all voters supported marijuana legalization, with most support coming from voters between 18 and 49 years old.
Who supports and opposes Amendment 3?
Proponents of Amendment 3 argue that legalizing marijuana will curb the black market and ensure that the marijuana products sold are safe and regulated. They also suggest that decriminalizing marijuana could free up law enforcement resources and reduce the number of non-violent drug crimes.
Advocates also argue that the marijuana industry is “sustainable and growing” and would save taxpayers money by not having to pay for the prosecution of possession crimes.
While some Republicans oppose the measure, former President Donald Trump, who lives in Florida, said he will support Amendment 3 at the ballot box.
Opponents, meanwhile, say legalizing marijuana could lead to an increase in unregulated drug use, making roads less safe and negatively impacting youth. Some also believe that crime rates could increase due to the increased availability of marijuana.
Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, opposes the amendment, as does the Republican senator. Rick Scottwho said he opposes Amendment 3 because of his brother’s long history of addiction. He said his brother Roger Scott, who died in April, started smoking marijuana as a teenager and struggled with substance abuse for the rest of his life.
Former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala wrote in a Miami Herald op-ed in September that the amendment would create a “new addiction industry” in Florida. She drew parallels with actions taken by the tobacco industry.
