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The results from the Nov. 5 election brought mixed emotions across UCF’s campus after Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida failed to meet the 60% threshold needed to pass.
“Amendment 3’s failure underscores a fundamental tension in American democracy,” Will Knight, attorney in the East Tampa area, said. “The balance between progressive policy change and the complex, often conservative nature of the electoral process.”
Students who supported the amendment said the defeat felt like a setback in their fight for justice reform, economic opportunity and the destigmatization of marijuana use.
Had Amendment 3 passed, it would have allowed adults 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and up to five grams in concentrate, according to the amendment text.
While the measure failed, medical marijuana has been legal in Florida since 2016 under Amendment 2, allowing patients with qualifying conditions to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 35 days, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.
Despite broad support for medical marijuana, with 71% of voters voting for Amendment 2 in 2016, adults who do not have a medical card face will continue to face criminal penalties for possession of marijuana, according to the MPP.
“I’m not surprised,” Anna Gilbert, sophomore engineering major, said. “I think every ad and commercial about the amendment was pushing that there would be smoking left and right, which is not the case.”
The state’s medical marijuana program is extensive, with hundreds of dispensaries and hundreds of thousands of patients, according to the MPP.
Students in support of legalizing marijuana argued it would have generated millions of dollars in tax revenue for the state and would have created new jobs in a growing industry.
The amendment’s sponsors claim that based on the experiences of other states that have legalized recreational marijuana, the amendment would have generated at least $195.6 million annually in state and local tax revenue if approved, according to the amendment’s financial impact statement.
Many students who supported the amendment emphasized the safety benefits of legalization, particularly in a state where medical marijuana has already been legalized. For Christina Kyger, sophomore nursing major, the failure of Amendment 3 was a startling surprise because of this.
“Marijuana can be laced with so many different things,” Kyger said. “Everyone knows someone who smokes, but not everyone has their med card, which means they must obtain it through unauthorized sources. Those sources could be lacing or cutting their weed with who knows what.”
Some students didn’t share the same enthusiasm for Amendment 3, though many did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. For Ryan Wheeler, sophomore hospitality major, the idea of recreational legalization with Amendment 3 was a step too far.
“I’m not totally against it, but I think we rushed it,” Wheeler said. “I have my medical marijuana card, but I was hesitant about having dispensaries everywhere. My concern was that it might attract lower-income communities or lead to the distribution of even lower-quality marijuana.”
Wheeler and others were concerned that recreational legalization could disproportionately impact lower-income areas if dispensaries were more likely to open in these communities, which could lead to negative social or economic effects.
A study by Gallup found that marijuana use is more prevalent among those with lower incomes and less education, although prevalence among younger age groups is also a factor. Gallup also cited a study indicating that about three in 10 marijuana users will develop a marijuana-use disorder.
Opponents of Amendment 3 brought up concerns about public safety and impaired driving.
The Colorado Department of Transportation found an increase in vehicle fatalities with drivers under the influence of marijuana from 2018 to 2022 after recreational legalization. However, the department found a decrease in the number of drivers driving after consuming cannabis during those same years.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and sheriff’s offices across Florida counties campaigned against Amendment 3, according to the Pensacola News Journal, and the Florida Sheriff’s Association released a statement opposing the amendment due to the risk of increased traffic accidents.
Knight said there are ways the state can work around potential crime ramifications of legalizing recreational marijuana.
“While Amendment 3 could reduce marijuana-related arrests and potentially lower violence linked to illegal drug trafficking, it may also introduce new public safety challenges, such as an increase in impaired driving and the persistence of the black market,” Knight said. “The key to minimizing risks will be a strong legal and regulatory framework, alongside effective public education and enforcement efforts, to ensure responsible use and prevent underage access.”
Students in support of the amendment made it clear that the fight for marijuana legalization in Florida is far from over, and Knight said national trends signal a future for recreational marijuana in Florida.
“Regardless of this delay, broader national trends toward legalization are unlikely to be reversed,” Knight said. “And the issue will likely evolve, with future efforts focusing on economic, legal and public health considerations, potentially paving the way for federal action.”
Despite Yes on 3’s efforts to build a cross-party campaign across party lines, Knight said the movement needs a broader campaign to succeed.
“It doesn’t signal a permanent setback,” Knight said. “While this outcome highlights the need for better coalition building and strategic messaging, states will continue to experiment with marijuana policy.”
UCF students, both for and against the amendment, were already prepping for the next round — whether it came in the form of another ballot initiative, a new wave of activism or simply continuing to challenge old assumptions, they said.
“Whatever happens, we’ve started something,” Kyger said. “We’ve made people talk about it, think about it. And that’s how change starts.”
”}]] The results from the Nov. 5 election brought mixed emotions across UCF’s campus after Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida failed to meet the 60% threshold needed to Read More
