Recreational marijuana could return to Florida ballot in 2026: What you need to know
Recreational marijuana may be making its way back to Florida voters in 2026, following a near-miss in 2024. The push to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over in the state is gaining momentum, but there are several hurdles before it can become law.In order for the amendment to appear on the ballot, organizers must first gather approximately 900,000 valid signatures from Florida voters. Once the signatures are collected, the amendment must be approved by Florida’s Supreme Court before it can be presented to voters. Finally, the amendment will need to secure 60 percent of voter approval in the 2026 election.In 2024, the initiative fell short by just four percentage points, which has sparked renewed efforts to get the measure across the finish line in the upcoming election. While securing the additional votes may seem achievable, there is a challenge: the 2026 election will be a midterm election, not a presidential election, which typically sees lower voter turnout. The group pushing for legalization, Smart and Safe Florida, is hopeful that adding new provisions to the amendment will help sway voters who opposed the measure in 2024.The proposal: Allows adults 21 and older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana for non-medical consumption. Establishes possession limits. Prohibits marketing and packaging attractive to children. Prohibits smoking and vaping in public. Maintains prohibition on driving under the influence. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to acquire, cultivate, process, transport, and sell marijuana to adults. Provides for creation of licenses for non-medical marijuana businesses. DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.
Recreational marijuana may be making its way back to Florida voters in 2026, following a near-miss in 2024. The push to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over in the state is gaining momentum, but there are several hurdles before it can become law.
In order for the amendment to appear on the ballot, organizers must first gather approximately 900,000 valid signatures from Florida voters. Once the signatures are collected, the amendment must be approved by Florida’s Supreme Court before it can be presented to voters. Finally, the amendment will need to secure 60 percent of voter approval in the 2026 election.
In 2024, the initiative fell short by just four percentage points, which has sparked renewed efforts to get the measure across the finish line in the upcoming election. While securing the additional votes may seem achievable, there is a challenge: the 2026 election will be a midterm election, not a presidential election, which typically sees lower voter turnout.
The group pushing for legalization, Smart and Safe Florida, is hopeful that adding new provisions to the amendment will help sway voters who opposed the measure in 2024.
The proposal: Allows adults 21 and older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana for non-medical consumption. Establishes possession limits. Prohibits marketing and packaging attractive to children. Prohibits smoking and vaping in public. Maintains prohibition on driving under the influence. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to acquire, cultivate, process, transport, and sell marijuana to adults. Provides for creation of licenses for non-medical marijuana businesses.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.
