Drew Wilson
If Florida voters have the opportunity to vote on recreational pot this year, they might “just say no,” according to new polling commissioned by the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
A survey conducted by Cherry Communications asked voters whether they would support a constitutional amendment legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana and found the proposal with 57% support — a hair short of the 60% threshold amendments need to secure passage.
The Florida Chamber has been a staunch opponent of the recreational marijuana ballot initiative and recently filed a brief supporting Attorney General Ashley Moody’s position that the ballot question was “misleading” for not getting into the weeds of cannabis’ illegality at the federal level.
And the Chamber has a general distaste for citizen-led constitutional amendments, with its political operation arguing the the process is used to sidestep elected lawmakers.
“With 144 amendments since its creation in 1968, Florida’s constitution has long been a target of special interest groups with agendas and recreational marijuana is no different,” said Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson.
“The Florida Chamber continues to lead the fight it has fought for over 100 years against similar proposed amendments that could be addressed legislatively rather than through altering Florida’s foundational document.”
Odds are high the recreational pot question will go before voters in November. The state Supreme Court has not yet approved the ballot question — it has until April 1 to do so — but Justices didn’t appear receptive to the state’s arguments during a hearing late last year.
Meanwhile, the campaign to get adult-use cannabis on the 2024 ballot has collected more than a million verified petition signatures, well over the 891,000 required to make the ballot.
Should it pass, there’s a chance its impact could be blunted by a bill under consideration this Legislative Session.
Filed by Lecanto Republican Rep. Ralph Massullo, HB 1269 would place strict limits on THC content in recreational cannabis — 10% for smokable marijuana, including whole flower, and a 60% limit for non-smokable cannabis, such as vaporizer cartridges.
Further, the bill would limit edibles to 200 milligrams per package with no more than 10 milligrams of THC in a “single serving portion.”
The proposed potency limits are below what is typically sold to recreational users in states where cannabis is legal, as well as most medical marijuana products available to patients in Florida. Whole flower cannabis sold at dispensaries generally contains about 20% THC by weight, though some varieties have higher or lower concentrations.
The Florida Chamber poll was conducted Dec. 27-Jan. 4 via live telephone interviews. The sample included 237 Democrats, 256 Republicans and 107 no-party voters. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.
13 comments
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" American
January 12, 2024 at 5:54 am
Good mornting America,
The entire “Medical Weed” has been so overdone that anybody who wants it is already getting all they want.
BOTTOM LINE:
There is no “Market” for recerational Weed. The Federal Government has killed the need and public desire for more “Weed Related Ballot Initives”
Earl Pitts “Sage Weed Expert” American
Dom
January 12, 2024 at 10:54 am
Bingo. If you have about $300 a year and 10 minutes for an appointment, it’s a near certainty you will be approved.
Elmo
January 12, 2024 at 6:54 am
The Florida Chamber is packed with prudes. It is an arm of the Republican party.
RJ
January 12, 2024 at 1:50 pm
I certainly didn’t care for their attitude against voter initiated amendments vs political. I doubt I’m alone in wanting to reverse amendment allowing DeSantis to run for Pres without resigning as Gov, especially now he wants to keep his travel and flight records private. I did see he and 5 other states that I’m aware of, in less than 6 months passed open carry gun laws. We went from Carry Permit only to Open Carry with hardly a word uttered.
So how do we tell who’s paying the tab? I damn sure don’t want anyone to be Gov and Pres at the same time. Talk about infiltration, post office, school boards, local govt and judges, rigging voting districts, eradicating drop in mail boxes, this feels like Rep’s win, at all costs. What the hell is worth ruining so many peoples lives. What sinister plot do they have planned? Now my bloodline feels threatened. Not by those at the border as much as those collecting checks, who are supposed to be working for us.
Missy
January 12, 2024 at 8:36 am
Okay let’s talk for instance alcohol ,how many people get killed drinking alcohol .a lot. How many people stay home and smoke weed .? Alot So yes I would say that medical weed is a necessity for Alot of people. So why not make it like Achol, let them buy as much as they need. They are not out killing anyone. Hell you can drive like you do everyday.Not kill anyone.
tom palmer
January 12, 2024 at 8:38 am
The main reasons people resort to this route is that Florida has no initiative procedure to change state law and because the Legislature refuses to act on topics the public desires to change and so the constitutional amendment is their only pathway. Even then, legislators try to sabotage successful referendums whenever they can
FloridaPatriot
January 12, 2024 at 11:48 am
Stop trying to dictate what the people want. Put it out for voting and let the people decide. Politicians like Moody HATE when the people make their states decisions.
Linwood Wright
January 12, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Guess I’ll need to keep ordering it my guy in Michigan.
It’s a shame that Florida doesn’t seem to want all that extra tax revenue.
RJ
January 12, 2024 at 1:57 pm
For the last several years, I’ve wished for a yes or no button on my phone. If we can send military info and purchase house with encrypted software, how many politician’s, i.e. jobs, many who seem totally disconnected to the voters anyway and are beholden to their donors, could we eliminate with a simple yes and no voting system. They don’t want abortions but don’t want to help feed, provise medical care or educate them after their born. Our state refuses Medicaid for the poor because it would cost $12mil. Sending migrants to Martha’s Vineyard probably cost about the same. Priorities are astounding.
Mingo
January 12, 2024 at 1:58 pm
With all the bravado about being the state with the most freedoms how can we not give the people the freedom to choose to partake or abstain. It appears to me the daddy state has taken it upon itself to choose for us.
DonWon
January 13, 2024 at 9:40 am
How many voters were there? This dont mean nothing. This lacks information that is needed to determine facts for myself. All this says is that they asked voters. But how many voters were asked?
Wiz
January 13, 2024 at 9:44 am
Almost 600 voters is not enough. That’s not even a qtr of a county alone. 👎🏾 you shouldn’t have put this out, seem like yall trying to kill ppl hopes before it get legalized.
V Pickens
January 16, 2024 at 12:55 am
I’m a registered Democrat and woman of color who voted for our great president, Joe Biden. I am not in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida and will vote against it.
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