Florida Governor Ron DeSantis believes that a marijuana legalization initiative is set to appear on the state’s November ballot despite the Attorney General seeking to block the vote.
The court still has to decide on the legal challenge from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody who urged the court to invalidate the measure, despite activists garnering almost a million signatures for ballot placement. DeSantis, who personally opposes the reform, predicted that voters will have the opportunity to decide on the issue this time, unlike in 2022 when Ashley was able to successfully block the legalization initiative.
“I think the court is going to approve that,” DeSantis, who recently withdrew from the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race, remarked during his final campaign event in New Hampshire. “So it’ll be on the ballot.”
Despite DeSantis’s personal opposition to marijuana legalization, recent polls indicate majority support for the reform among likely voters.
The proposed measure, financially backed by multi-state marijuana company Trulieve, seeks to amend the state Constitution, allowing existing medical cannabis companies to sell marijuana to adults over 21.
If approved, the initiative prohibits home cultivation and lacks equity provisions for individuals with prior cannabis convictions. A recent poll from the Florida Chamber of Commerce indicates majority support but not enough to get to the required 60% for passage.
The state Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments against the Smart & Safe Florida campaign last November, is yet to issue a ruling, expected by April 1.
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