Florida Marijuana Legalization Measure Sues State Over Ballot Access
A campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida has taken its dispute with the state government to the Florida Supreme Court, accusing the administration of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of attempting to block the measure from appearing on the ballot in 2026.
Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind the legalization effort, filed a petition with the state’s highest court, alleging that state election officials have failed to perform their legal duty to confirm that the campaign has gathered the required number of voter signatures to qualify for the ballot. According to the campaign, it has collected more than three times the number of signatures needed, but officials have yet to formally verify the milestone.
The campaign argues that the delay is an attempt by the DeSantis administration to improperly prevent the measure from reaching the ballot. The governor has a history of opposing progressive initiatives, including the legalization of marijuana and abortion rights. In 2024, he used state funds and his political influence to campaign against these measures.
Smart & Safe Florida is urging the Florida Supreme Court to order state election officials to confirm the campaign’s petition, which would allow the proposed amendment to be reviewed by the state attorney general and ultimately put before voters in 2026. The campaign’s filing states that the delay is “indisputable” and that the initiative has secured three times the number of verified valid petitions required statewide.
