Florida’s marijuana legalization efforts were dealt a setback when Amendment 3 failed to reach the required 60% approval threshold in the recent election. Despite this, a majority of voters still supported the measure, which would have allowed adult-use marijuana in the state. While President-elect Donald Trump, who endorsed Amendment 3, has not endorsed federal legalization, some lawmakers are optimistic that recreational marijuana will be legalized in Florida in the future.
State Senator Joe Gruters, a Republican from Sarasota, plans to file bills in the 2025 legislative session that would expand marijuana use in Florida. Gruters, who is a former state Republican Party chair and was a vocal supporter of Amendment 3, is working with other lawmakers to determine what bills can pass the Republican-controlled legislature.
One potential bill could make veterans exempt from yearly medical marijuana use fees, while another could allow Floridians to grow their own marijuana at home. Gruters also expressed support for preemptively putting restrictions on public use of marijuana.
Despite the setback, marijuana companies in Florida remain optimistic about the future of the industry. “We believe there is a significant unmet demand for safe, regulated cannabis in Florida, and we look forward to working with the Governor’s team and lawmakers to address barriers that hinder additional progress,” said George Archos, founder and CEO of Verano.
However, not all lawmakers are on board with expanding marijuana use in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis and other opponents of Amendment 3 have expressed concerns about the measure’s lack of provisions for home grow and public use restrictions. Senate President-elect Ben Albritton has also stated that he does not support expanding marijuana beyond the medical program.
Despite the challenges ahead, some lawmakers believe that it is only a matter of time before Florida joins the dozens of other states that have legalized recreational marijuana. As one state senator put it, “Certainly we could start doing things around the side.”
