Florida Activists Push New Cannabis Legalization Initiative After November Setback
Smart & Safe Florida files new proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, addressing previous criticisms and aiming for 2026 ballot
Cannabis legalization advocates in Florida are making another push for recreational marijuana, filing a new initiative this week just two months after a similar measure failed to meet the necessary super-majority in the November election.
The group Smart & Safe Florida submitted the new proposal to the state Division of Elections, seeking approval for the 2026 ballot.
If successful, the measure would allow adults aged 21 and over to legally possess up to two ounces of cannabis and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates, alongside establishing a regulatory framework for cannabis production and sales.
The new initiative introduces key changes to address concerns raised during the last campaign.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, among other critics, argued that the previous measure would have restricted the state legislature’s ability to regulate where cannabis could be consumed.
The updated proposal addresses this by explicitly prohibiting smoking and vaping marijuana in public places.
It also mandates restrictions on cannabis packaging and marketing to ensure it isn’t aimed at children.
Paula Savchenko, a cannabis law attorney, praised the new initiative for responding to previous criticisms, noting that these adjustments may make the proposal more palatable to lawmakers and voters.
Another change included in the new measure is the allowance for home cultivation of marijuana by adults for personal use, a provision that was absent from the 2024 measure.
While nearly 56% of voters supported the cannabis legalization initiative Amendment 3 in the November election, it fell short of the 60% required by Florida law to pass.
The new initiative mirrors Amendment 3 in many ways, including provisions that permit medical cannabis operators to sell recreational marijuana to adults.
It also requires the legislature to issue licenses for new cannabis businesses dedicated solely to recreational marijuana sales.
To move forward, Smart & Safe Florida will need to collect nearly 900,000 signatures from registered voters in order to place the proposal on the 2026 ballot.
If successful, Florida voters will have the chance to decide whether to legalize recreational cannabis for adults, joining the growing number of states across the country that have already made such moves.
The group Smart & Safe Florida submitted the new proposal to the state Division of Elections, seeking approval for the 2026 ballot.
If successful, the measure would allow adults aged 21 and over to legally possess up to two ounces of cannabis and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates, alongside establishing a regulatory framework for cannabis production and sales.
The new initiative introduces key changes to address concerns raised during the last campaign.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, among other critics, argued that the previous measure would have restricted the state legislature’s ability to regulate where cannabis could be consumed.
The updated proposal addresses this by explicitly prohibiting smoking and vaping marijuana in public places.
It also mandates restrictions on cannabis packaging and marketing to ensure it isn’t aimed at children.
Paula Savchenko, a cannabis law attorney, praised the new initiative for responding to previous criticisms, noting that these adjustments may make the proposal more palatable to lawmakers and voters.
Another change included in the new measure is the allowance for home cultivation of marijuana by adults for personal use, a provision that was absent from the 2024 measure.
While nearly 56% of voters supported the cannabis legalization initiative Amendment 3 in the November election, it fell short of the 60% required by Florida law to pass.
The new initiative mirrors Amendment 3 in many ways, including provisions that permit medical cannabis operators to sell recreational marijuana to adults.
It also requires the legislature to issue licenses for new cannabis businesses dedicated solely to recreational marijuana sales.
To move forward, Smart & Safe Florida will need to collect nearly 900,000 signatures from registered voters in order to place the proposal on the 2026 ballot.
If successful, Florida voters will have the chance to decide whether to legalize recreational cannabis for adults, joining the growing number of states across the country that have already made such moves.
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