Florida Residents May Get Another Chance to Vote on Recreational Marijuana
For the second time, Floridians will have the opportunity to decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. The Smart and Safe Florida campaign is working to put the initiative on the 2026 ballot, with major financial support from Trulieve, a cannabis company that has already invested $20 million this year.
John Morgan, a prominent attorney who successfully campaigned for medical marijuana in 2016, believes that this time around, the measure will pass. He points out that the industry has gained more financial backing and that the new proposed amendment addresses concerns raised by opponents last year, such as marketing and packaging appealing to children and banning smoking and vaping in public.
The previous attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in 2024 received 56% of the vote, but fell short of the 60% needed for passage. The strongest opposition came from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his then-Chief of Staff and current Attorney General James Uthmeier, who ran a committee called “Keep Florida Clean” to fight the measure.
The committee received significant funding from various organizations, including the Hope Florida Foundation, which received a Medicaid settlement payment from Centene Corp. However, a spokesperson for the Foundation stated that the allocation of funds was directed by the Agency for Health Care Administration and approved by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, and that Centene had no knowledge of the subsequent use of the funds.
Morgan believes that DeSantis will not be the biggest obstacle to passing recreational marijuana, citing the importance of presidential election years in boosting voter turnout. He also notes that the new amendment would separate the cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensing of cannabis into distinct licenses, which would foster competition among smaller companies.
Morgan is considering a run for governor, but is waiting to see which other candidates enter the race. He emphasizes the importance of a bigger turnout in the next election, saying that some people only vote during presidential years.
