Florida Says No To Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

The results are in, and Florida has voted against legalizing recreational marijuana.

Florida voters have rejected Amendment 3, which sought to legalize the recreational use and manufacturing of marijuana. According to projections from NBC News, the measure fell short of the 60% voter support required to pass a state constitutional amendment, despite an array of endorsements that included the Florida Democratic Party and even former President Donald Trump.

This means Florida’s current marijuana policies remain unchanged. The state continues to permit marijuana use solely for medical purposes, which was expanded in a 2016 statewide vote that allowed patients with illnesses such as glaucoma, cancer and epilepsy to access medical cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation. The push for recreational use, however, has not been able to be passed.

There was a significant push for Amendment 3 as the conversation around cannabis legislation continues to grow in the public sphere. Yet, despite support from high-profile figures and political parties, its failure suggests that Floridians are not convinced about the benefits of full legalization.