Gov. Ron DeSantis had urged voters to reject the measure.
A push to legalize leisure marijuana use in Florida failed on Nov. 5 as voters rejected a poll initiative to that impact.
At current, the state solely authorizes the usage of medicinal marijuana. Modification 3 would have made it authorized for adults ages 21 and older to buy and possess as much as 3 ounces of marijuana and use the drug recreationally.
By 9:30 p.m. on Election Day, with 92 % of the vote in, the proposal had obtained 55.8 % of the vote. It wanted a 60 % majority to cross.
Good Approaches to Marijuana President Kevin Sabet heralded the measure’s failure as “considered one of Large Marijuana’s greatest defeats but” in an announcement.
“Floridians have dealt a outstanding blow to one of many largest business marijuana firms within the U.S. and others within the habit trade,” mentioned Sabet, who served as White Home drug coverage adviser below the Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama administrations.
“With the rejection of Modification 3, Floridians have taken a agency stance towards the damaging medication the pot profiteers tried to persuade the general public are innocent.”
Within the closing weeks of election season, advertisements encouraging Floridians to assist Modification 3 dominated the airwaves. On the identical time, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis toured the state warning that the measure was not because it appeared.
“This modification was written and placed on the poll and is making an attempt to be handed due to one mega marijuana firm,” the governor mentioned at an Oct. 30 information convention in Tampa.
The modification was largely bankrolled by Trulieve, the state’s largest medical marijuana operator, with 159 dispensaries statewide. The corporate is included in British Columbia, Canada, however has made Quincy, Florida, its dwelling base.
DeSantis accused Trulieve of being behind the drafting of the modification, saying it poured $141 million into selling the initiative. The publicly traded firm’s aim, DeSantis alleged, was to “maximize earnings” for its shareholders, not develop the freedoms of Floridians.
The governor mentioned that the modification would develop the suitable to own and smoke marijuana, “however provided that you purchase it from them. They don’t provide the proper to develop your individual marijuana on this modification.”
Trulieve is suing Florida’s Republican Get together, alleging defamation over advertisements concentrating on the modification.
“Whereas the outcomes of Modification 3 didn’t clear the 60 % threshold, we’re desperate to work with the governor and legislative leaders who agree with us on decriminalizing leisure marijuana for adults, addressing public consumption, persevering with our deal with baby security, and increasing entry to protected marijuana by way of dwelling develop.”