Last year’s marijuana legalization, known as Amendment 3, received 56% of the vote but fell short of the 60% needed to pass.
Now, the next marijuana legalization initiative is gathering signatures to be placed on the state’s November 2026 ballot.
The political committee Smart & Safe Florida isn’t wasting time. It has submitted 613,206 valid petition signatures of the 880,062 signatures needed to be placed on the 2026 state ballot.
The new name of the marijuana proposal is “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana.” According to Smart and Safe Florida, the new measure would permit adults 21 and over to possess, purchase, and use pot for non-medical purposes.
The group is also adding some extra protections that voters may support on the next go around, like banning the marketing of the product to children and bans on vaping and public smoking.
In the proposal, Smart & Safe Florida wants medical marijuana treatment centers that are licensed, the opportunity to sell marijuana to those 21 and over for the purpose of recreational use. If passed, state lawmakers would have to set up requirements for the new licensing framework for non-medical sellers.
There is still the discussion that if the amendments pass, how would it conflict with federal law, which still classifies marijuana as a controlled substance.
And of course, the politics behind it. In 2024, then-candidate Trump supported the legalization but was opposed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
And with the conflict between the GOP-controlled legislature and the Governor, could there be some defections inside the GOP on this issue?
Analysts say that Smart and Safe Florida is ahead of the game concerning petitions for the measure to be placed on the 2026 ballot.
Enough signatures must be submitted and verified by the state by Feb. 1, 2026.
