Christine Jordan Sexton
The Florida Supreme Court must make a consequential decision between now and Monday, April 1, on whether to allow two significant ballot initiatives on the November 2024 ballot.
If approved by voters, one of the proposed constitutional amendments would allow the sale and possession of recreational marijuana, a move that would rapidly be embraced by the state’s already established medical marijuana industry. One of Florida’s dominant medical marijuana companies, Trulieve, donated more than $40 million to finance the effort to get the measure on the ballot.
The court’s review is centered around whether the amendment sticks to a single subject and if the ballot summary and title are misleading.
Attorney General Ashley Moody asked the court to block the marijuana amendment from the ballot, but the scope of questions during the Supreme Court hearing suggested that several Justices were skeptical of her reasoning.
The group behind the amendment — Smart & Safe Florida — has maintained it followed a roadmap laid out by the court when the Supreme Court permitted a medical marijuana amendment to make the ballot.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has already sounded off about what he calls the broad impact of the initiative, although he also has suggested that he expects the Supreme Court to allow the measure to go before voters. Sixty percent of those voting on the amendment must say “yes” for the initiative to pass.
The expected court action comes right after the Legislature passed a highly contentious bill to place restrictions on the hemp industry that some view as a way to sideline a potential competitor to the soon-to-be burgeoning recreational marijuana market. That bill passed the House by a relatively narrow 64-48 vote, although it was unanimously passed by the Senate. There have already been calls for DeSantis to veto the bill.
The other proposed amendment the court must review is an abortion rights measure that would block the state from prohibiting abortion up to the point of viability, which is usually around 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Moody has also asked the court to block this measure as well. Once again, there appeared to be pushback from some of the Justices when they held oral arguments in early February.
The court’s looming decision on the abortion rights initiative comes as the Supreme Court has yet to render a much-anticipated ruling on the fate of Florida’s existing ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
The Legislature first approved the ban in 2022 before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had been the guiding precedent on when states could regulate abortion.
The legal challenge against the law, however, centers on whether the ban violates the state constitution and a privacy clause that was first approved by voters in 1980. That clause has been cited by the state Supreme Court when it struck down previous abortion laws passed by the Legislature. A decision to uphold the 15-week ban would presumably require the Florida Supreme Court to also overturn its previous rulings.
If the state Supreme Court does uphold the 15-week ban, then a ban on abortions after six weeks would take effect 30 days later. Legislators approved the stricter ban in 2023 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
18 comments
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 28, 2024 at 8:37 pm
Good evening Dook 4 Brains Leftys,
The “SUPREAMS” of The Great State of Florida see no up-side to muddying up the waters of a Sage Presidential election with a bunch of off topic side-bar issues. In order to keep our presidential elections true and pure we will be voting for the Presidental Candidates ONLY …. Full Stop ….. End Of Story.
If anybody wants to also vote on ruining your lives by smoking weed or killing babies we can always have a weed smoking/baby killing election maybe at a later time …. but not together at the same time.
I, Earl Pitts American, have already spoken with The Florida Supreams, the Sage Ronald, and the 67 County Voting Administrators and we are all on the same page. We will not sully the honorable Florida Presidential vote by tacking on any other seperate issues.
I THE EARL OF POLITICS HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS ISSUE AND THE “CASE IS CLOSED”.
Thank you Dook 4 Brains Leftys,
Lets all just agree that Earl is Correct and that we do not to speak of this again.
Thanks again, Dook 4 Brains Leftys, for seeing the Sage Wisdom of ME, Earl Pitts American and most of all for agreeing not to bring this anoying issue up ever again as THE EARL HAS SPOKEN and you may risk a severe Chastizement from Earl if you speak of this again,
Earl Pitts “Election Expert” American
Hung Wiil
March 28, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Rush Limbaugh was the “Big Voice on the Right,” not you Earl. I knew Rush Limbaugh, you’re no Rush Limbaugh.
Your post was really dumb.
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 29, 2024 at 11:33 am
Thank you Hung for your interest in “ALL THINGS EARL”,
You may also address ME, Earl Pitts American as:
“THE NEW MAYOR OF REALVILLE”
Thank you and keep following my postings of Sage Wisdom,
Earl Pitts American
* one fine day Hung you will proudly say that you “knew Earl Pitts American” *
rick whitaker
March 29, 2024 at 8:30 pm
hung, earl is a radio show want to be. he acts like rush and paul harvey among others. the man is on the verge of completely losing it. he is a very foul and degenerate person, so i wish him the worse. he couldn’t make it in life by being a serving productive person, so he chose being a lying, bigoted, nusuince. that is why earl is a maga cultist.
rick whitaker
March 29, 2024 at 7:55 pm
WARNING TROLL COMMENT BY EARL SHITS “THE BIG ASS HOLE ON THE RIGHT” UN-AMERICAN
Flash Light
March 29, 2024 at 3:57 am
For Earl – Does Gary Burbank know you are posting using his character’s name?
For Gary – Do you approve these messages?
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 29, 2024 at 11:36 am
Good Morn ‘Ting Flesh Light,
You are hereby Chastized for rudeness to Earl. Why cant you be nice and respectfull like my good friend Hung Wiil above?
EPA
Flash Light
March 29, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Asking simple questions does not connote rudeness, Fake Earl. Adopting another’s character name as your own is rude and disingenuous.
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 29, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Well Flesh Light,
Maybe your right no harm no foul in asking a question. Also my Beloved Son/Daughter, Dont Say FLA, along with my Employee Of The Month, Rick, both seem to like you.
THEREFORE:
I, Earl Pitts American, Hereby Lift The Painfull Chastizement I placed you under earlier today. We would not want such a fine individual as yourself to suffer under a Painfull Chastizement over the Holy Easter Weekend.
You are free to go forth and enjoy this Beautiful Eastet Weekend courtsey of Dont Say FLA and Rick Whitaker.
Live Long And Prosper,
Earl Pitts “EARL HAS A HEART” American
rick whitaker
March 29, 2024 at 8:25 pm
earl, they still talk about you at the cincinnati gay bars. well the real old queens seem to know you from the past. earl, i also found out about the molesting incident at your pitts bar- b-que restaurant. earl i have just began to investigate all the info about you on the web. i was surprised at how much was out there on you. i will admit, some of it is ok stuff that draws no interest. but much of it is quite salacious. earl, have you tried to get an it pro to help you squash some of the worst stuff? i now think i know why you say sphincter all the time over and over relentlessly. don’t get me wrong i’m not trying to help you, i hate you and EVERYTHING about you. you can run to florida, but you can’t hide from your past. and no earl, i’m not one of your leftie friends. you have no friends, unless you pay them. a punk’s punk, that has got to be the perfect moniker for you. EARL, THE PUNK’S PUNK ESQ.
rick whitaker
March 29, 2024 at 7:04 pm
flashlight, earl pitts is a retired radio clown from cincinati. if you go to gary burbank on wikipedia you’ll see all his silly aka’s. his real name is billy purser and he is 82 years old. i believe he was married in the past, but i think he lives as a gay man at present. the guy is crazy and probably should be institutionalized.
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 29, 2024 at 7:44 pm
Thanks Rick,
That is one of your finest fake leftist contrarian replies to my Sage Wisdom EVER. The world sees why you are my finest employee ever!
Congrats Big Guy on the EOM Award,
Earl Pitts “BEST BOSS EVER” American
rick whitaker
March 29, 2024 at 8:08 pm
earl, call a post fake because it espoused you. how weak. earl, i have been regularly exposing your nastiness, and you don’t like it. wah wah wah earl, i’ll say it again, you are what is known as a punk’s punk. i’ve met people similar to you, but i point them out to others and then avoid them like the plague they are. earl, you are a plague.
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 29, 2024 at 8:23 pm
Excellant Rick …. we got the “Readership Audiance” eating out of our hand.
Son, keep up the great work !!!!!!
EPA
rick whitaker
March 30, 2024 at 10:07 pm
WARNING TROLL COMMENT BY THE SPHINCTER IDIOT
Dont Say FLA
March 29, 2024 at 11:23 am
Dont ya just love an anti-voting AG who files suit about ballot language, claiming the language is too confusing for Florida’s idiot voters, and truly thinking that will work?
Florida’s G0P truly thinks Florida’s voters are stupid AF.
Ask yourself why would they think that? Why would Florida’s G0P think Florida voters, folks who vote G0P by a lot, are stupid AF?
Only thing I can think of is that the Florida G0P legislators and the folks in the Rhonda department all know a lot of stuff voters don’t know, such as all the nonsense and blatant grift they get up to, and all the lies they tell Florida’s voters to explain away any questions brought up by anyone about their activities, and how Florida’s voter say “oh okay that makes sense” and on keep voting G0P.
And the Florida G0Ps just laugh and laugh and wonder what next level they can take their grifts too.
Broad Impact
March 29, 2024 at 11:26 am
The “broad impact” Ron warns about is all the ridiculous shit that broad Assley Moody get up to.
Ocean Joe
March 31, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Both measures will pass easily.
The bought and sold legislature has to hope the stacked Supreme Court will do its’ dirty work and block ballot access.
If not, the legislature will have to come up with rules to knee cap the public will. Same as they did with the felon voting and the class size amendments.
On the other hand everybody can walk around with a loaded gun.
Comments are closed.