JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida voters will make a decision on recreational marijuana this Nov. 5.
A “yes” vote for Amendment 3 votes to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21 years old.
The law allows Floridians who are of age to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and up to five grams of cannabis concentrate.
If Amendment 3 passes, medical marijuana treatment centers would be authorized to sell marijuana to adults for personal use.
The Florida State Legislature could provide licenses to other businesses to cultivate and sell marijuana products.
Like all the other amendments, Amendment 3 needs to receive at least 60% of the vote in order to pass.
So, when will it take effect?
If Amendment 3 is passed, it will be implemented six months later — which means May 2025.
Therefore, there will be no immediate changes if the amendment passes next Tuesday.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Florida since the 2016 general election, when voters passed that amendment by 71%.
Sentence two under section C of the bill labeled “limitations,” grants the state legislature the ability to enact laws related to the amendment, like prohibitions on smoking in public.
According to a July 2023 report by the Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference, sales tax revenue for recreational marijuana is estimated to be anywhere between $195 million and $430 million per year.
That money would then be able to be distributed by the legislature in any way they see fit, like extra funding to law enforcement or public schools.