Recreational weed will be on Florida’s 2024 ballot, Supreme Court rules
Story by Kirby Wilson, Romy Ellenbogen, Tampa Bay Times •
Full article here:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...es/ar-BB1kTReH
Floridians will vote on recreational marijuana in November after the Florida Supreme Court signed off Monday on ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment.
The amendment would permit nonmedical marijuana use and would remove criminal or civil penalties for adults over 21 who possess and use up to 3 ounces of pot for personal use. At least 60% of Floridians must approve it to become law. Florida voters passed the state’s medical marijuana statute with 71% of the vote in 2016.
Twenty-four states allow the use of recreational marijuana, including Ohio, whose voters approved it with 57% in favor last year.
If voters support the Florida amendment, it will go into effect six months after the election. At that point, Floridians who are 21 and older would be able to purchase marijuana products at already existing and licensed medical marijuana distributors. Florida currently has 25 qualified treatment centers that operate more than 600 dispensaries statewide.
Cheap Analysis: Although Florida has definitely titled solid red and is no longer a "Battleground State" for national or statewide office elections, this Amendment does actually have a good shot of passing. Many pundits incorrectly assume Republicans will vote against this Amendment. But as the late Benny Hill pointed out, never assume anything.
In fact, I know many Republicans that are big time stoners and will vote for this Amendment. Also, there is a Abortion rights Amendment on the Ballot, which will bring out Democrats and Libertarians to voted they will likely vote for this Amendment as well.
I think the 60% needed to pass will be easily achieved. And, like Florida's medical marijuana rollout, it won't be fucked up like New York did with it's recreational rollout. It will b efficient, and you will not see 100's of unlicensed dispensaries pop up and put the licensed dispensaries in financial peril.