Category: Hemp News

While it still faces a Florida Supreme Court review and an expected legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody, amendment supporters heralded the breakthrough.

“We are thrilled the campaign has made this milestone and look forward to seeing this initiative on the ballot next November,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said Thursday in a statement.

Moody’s office did not immediately provide a comment in response to a request.

The proposal would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to three ounces of marijuana for personal use. Medical marijuana treatment centers, which were legalized by a statewide referendum in 2016, would be allowed to sell marijuana for recreational use.

Moody, who opposed a proposed 2022 marijuana legalization ballot measure, in May forwarded the proposed 2024 amendment to the Florida Supreme Court for review.

Moody stated in her letter that she’d argue the proposal doesn’t comply with state law, which includes a requirement that it contain “clear and unambiguous language.” Briefs in the case are due July 12, 2023.

If it makes it on the ballot, the marijuana legalization proposal could boost voter turnout — particularly among young voters — and possibly influence the 2024 races in Florida. Former President Donald Trump carried Florida in 2016 and 2020 but the state backed Democrat Barack Obama in the two previous presidential elections.

Twenty-one states have legalized recreational marijuana use while 37 have approved medical marijuana in some form. It remains illegal at the federal level.

Trulieve, which now has 186 retail dispensaries across 11 states, has pinned its growth hopes on Florida, its home state and the third-most-populous state in the nation. The company recently opened two dispensaries in Georgia, where the medical market is just getting off the ground.

“Our investment demonstrates our firm belief that Floridians are ready to experience the freedom to use cannabis for personal consumption; a freedom which is currently enjoyed by more than half of America’s adults,” Rivers said.

Smart & Safe announced in March it had collected more than 1 million petition signatures but they had not been certified by local election officials at that time. The Department of State on Thursday updated its website to show the most recent number of signatures that were validated.

Trulieve, which now has 186 retail dispensaries across 11 states, has pinned its growth hopes on Florida, its home state and the third-most-populous state in the nation. The company recently opened two dispensaries in Georgia, where the medical market is just getting off the ground.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Recreational marijuana could soon be a reality in Florida.

Nearly a million verified voters have signed onto an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults in Florida. That’s enough to get the issue on the ballot in 2024.

However, the state’s supreme court could still nix the measure, as they did in 2021.

Even if it survives a legal challenge and makes the ballot next November, the measure would still need 60 percent of the vote to pass. Some Treasure Coast residents are optimistic it will.

“It’s got a fighting chance or a relatively marginal chance,” opined John Montrey.

The state’s supreme court has blocked cannabis legalization measures before though, and some fear it could happen again.

“Questionable if it’ll make it or not, to me,” admitted Port St. Lucie resident Greg Rodgers.

If Safe & Smart Florida’s measure survives the court – and 60 percent of voters OK it on the ballot – those old enough to drink alcohol could recreationally use and possess a few ounces of it.

“It has in other parts of the country and I think it will be legalized here,” Missie Dunham shared.

Rooted Zen Healthcare in Port St. Lucie prescribes medical marijuana cards, and owner Christine Torres wants marijuana to become more widely available.

“Marijuana shouldn’t even be where it’s at now, it’s a plant, it should be accessible to everybody,” Torres remarked. “Anybody should be able to use it for whatever needs they seem necessary.”

Residents in Port St. Lucie seem to be in favor of legalizing it.

“If somebody wants to and they’re over 18, and it doesn’t affect their driving, doesn’t affect their domestic life in negative ways, I think that’s fine,” Chris Murray offered.

“If it’s used properly, I’m okay with that. I have no problem with marijuana,” Dunham added. “I don’t personally use it but if it’s helping somebody, whatever reason, then I say go for it.”

If the measure survives all the hurdles, Florida would become the 24th state to legalize cannabis for adults.