TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CAPITOL NEWS SERVICE) – 2022 is probably not the year recreational marijuana is legalized in Florida. Two constitutional amendments have been found flawed by the state Supreme Court, and legislative efforts are a long way off, but that doesn`t stop some from trying. But recreational marijuana use is still illegal in the state of Florida. It is illegal to grow, sell and possess larger quantities. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The legalization of recreational marijuana could be back on the ballot of Florida voters in 2024, thanks to two proposed initiatives. So far, efforts to legalize marijuana for non-medical purposes in the Sunshine State have not received enough support to make it to the election. The change would allow recreational use of marijuana by people 21 and older and could also remove requirements that have made it costly for small cannabis entrepreneurs. The Make It Legal Florida policy committee is trying to put a constitutional amendment on the 2022 ballot that would legalize recreational marijuana. After there weren`t enough signatures for the measure to appear on the 2020 ballot, the committee has already received enough signatories to make 2022 possible. In Florida, a new attempt is underway to put a change for recreational marijuana on the 2024 ballot.
Last year, the Florida Supreme Court rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude recreational marijuana use in the state from the 2022 election, ruling that election language was misleading. But that doesn`t stop members of the House and Senate from promoting recreational marijuana. Efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida have already failed. This led us to talk about the legalization of marijuana in the state of Florida. Currently, the state has legalized medical marijuana for qualified individuals. Some counties and municipalities have carried out their own reforms. While the wording that could appear on the 2022 ballot is still being worked out, the November election cycle brought good news on another front to legalization supporters. Florida voters rejected Amendment 4, which would have resulted in the approval of all future constitutional amendments, such as a change to marijuana legalization, twice.
If Amendment 4 had passed, it would have meant that even if voters had approved recreational marijuana in 2022, the same measure would have had to be voted on again in 2024. The rejection of Amendment No 4 removes this additional step. At Largey Law Firm, we monitor developments regarding the potential legalization of recreational marijuana in Florida. If you have any questions or need a lawyer to defend you in a drug case, contact us online. We have offices in Tavares, Inverness and Clermont and serve clients throughout Central Florida. Voters in New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana passed legislation in November 2020 to legalize recreational marijuana use for anyone 21 or older. As a result, about one in three Americans now live in states where weed is legal for adults. However, Florida still does not allow recreational use of marijuana. However, that could change if the state Supreme Court doesn`t end the process first. Legally, neither threshold means that recreational marijuana will be legalized, only that it is up to voters to decide in the next major election. To take effect, 60% of Florida voters would have to vote “yes” in November 2024 once they are on the ballot.
Supporters of the new proposal said they were confident it would meet the Florida Supreme Court`s requirements for inclusion on the ballot and receive voter support. Rep. Yvonne Hinson (D-Gainesville) is the sponsor of a legalization bill. So we want to know, you think, that marijuana should be 100% legal in Florida. Answer the question in the form below and it can be read in a newscast on Channel 4. As suggested, if elected, Floridians 21 and older could legally “possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and accessories for non-medical personal use by smoking and ingestion.” “I think it`s fair to call this bill prohibitionist,” Roach said. RELATED: Local doctor thinks sweeping changes to marijuana laws could be just around the corner We asked Rep. Hinson how she would handle the governor`s opposition.
Proponents of the legislation told reporters that more than forty-two thousand people were arrested in 2018 for marijuana possession. In order to reach a vote, two obstacles must be overcome and then identified. These checkpoints are a forensic and financial verification requirement that would require 222,898 signatures of Florida voters and 891,589 national signatures of voters. The initiatives were submitted in September 2021 and August 2022, according to records from the Florida Elections Division. But signatures are not the only obstacle. Under Florida law, the state Supreme Court plays a crucial role in deciding whether a proposed constitutional amendment can appear on the ballot. In particular, the court must approve the text and summary of the proposal. Rep. Spencer Roach tried to limit THC in medical marijuana last year. As proposed, the amendment “would allow adults 21 years of age and older to possess, use, purchase, display and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and marijuana accessories for personal use and for any reason.” Make it legal to counter Florida lawyers by saying that the text and summary of the proposal are clear and unambiguous.
On Agarwal`s point on federal law, Make It Legal Florida says, “We`re changing the only law we can change. The only law we can change is the Florida law. Medical marijuana processing centers would also be able to “acquire, grow, process, manufacture, sell and distribute these products and supplies,” in addition to other state-licensed facilities. “I`ll pray about it,” Hinson told us. “I want to try to be the guy who is effective and gets things done,” the Tampa Democrat said. The 157-page bill would also overturn marijuana-related convictions and grant pardons to low-level offenders. Rep. Ann Eskamani (D-Orlando) said the legislation could continue to do a lot of good in the future. “I`m practical in that I know the bill isn`t going anywhere,” Learn said. “Does arresting people for this largely victimless activity help anyone?” she asked at a news conference.
This year, Roach teamed up with Democrat Andrew Learned, who co-funded a legalization bill last year. The legalization of marijuana will almost certainly be an issue in the gubernatorial race. Ron DeSantis has told us twice that he is against it, but the three Democrats running against him are in favor of it. Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2016 allowing the medical use of marijuana. Smart & Safe Florida`s August initiative has received significant support and is launched with a video of country musicians, the Bellamy Brothers, showing their support. On Thursday, President Biden pardoned thousands of people convicted of possession of marijuana under federal law. The President is now encouraging states to do the same. “Let`s also see it as a source of revenue to cover as much as possible the expenses that we have in our state, where every person benefits,” the Democrat said. Tarik hosts weekday news and reports at 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. with the I-TEAM. Now, both would make medical marijuana more user-friendly by testing it, requiring more training to recommend doctors, and extending the validity period of a patient card.
But when it comes to legalization, Learned told us. Florida Attorney General Amit Agarwal said the language was misleading and therefore the court should not approve the measure in written form.