Almost 6 million Floridians voted in favor of Amendment 3, which would have legalized the use of recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, about 56% of voters supported the measure. But it required 60 percent of “yes” votes to pass.
Governor Ron DeSantis spent millions of dollars running ads and speaking at state-sponsored press events before the election, telling voters to vote down Amendment 3.
Today in Orlando, I met with local leaders and concerned citizens who are against Amendment 3.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 4, 2024
One mega marijuana corporation has poured over $140 million into Amendment 3. That’s not a charitable donation in the best interests of Florida—it’s a publicly-traded company trying to… pic.twitter.com/3VhPoKnOq6
“It’s going to do damage to young people. It's just a question of how much damage," DeSantis told an audience in Orlando.
The Florida Sheriff’s Association came out against the measure, saying it would lead to more crime in the state, specifically with motorists driving impaired.
Most sheriffs in the state got their wish on Tuesday night, when the governor posted on X announcing that "Amendment 3 has failed."
With polls now closed in Florida —
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 6, 2024
Amendment 3 has failed.
Amendment 4 has failed.
But not all law enforcement officials agree with the anti-marijuana stance.
“We’ve criminalized a lot of people, especially in the African American community," Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young told WFSU after the election.
Young is the longest serving sheriff in Florida’s history. He said he will continue pushing for marijuana reform policies.
“Both presidential candidates was for legalizing marijuana," said Young. "I think you’re going to see in the near future, that marijuana is going to be legalized throughout America."
Under Amendment 3, Floridians would have been able to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products for non-medical reasons.
But the amendment read, that only state-licensed entities, like medical marijuana treatment centers, could grow and sell the drug.
Gov. DeSantis and others, called that a red flag.
This morning I joined the Preston Scott Show to discuss the motivation behind (pitfalls of) proposed Amendment 3. pic.twitter.com/Vp6RC5Bfpq
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 4, 2024
Kim Rivers, the CEO of Trulieve, Florida’s largest medical marijuana operator, told ABC Action News on election day, that she’s contemplating filing a lawsuit against DeSantis for using taxpayer dollars to fund his anti-weed campaign.
“I think it’s our responsibility as citizens and as taxpayers, to hold our government accountable," she said Tuesday.
Rivers then took to the News Service of Florida to discuss a plan that involves Trulieve working with the Florida Legislature to expand medical marijuana access.
“Folks care about his issue," Rivers told the News Service on Wednesday.
"Millions of Floridians signed the petition. Another 6 million Floridians showed up at the polls. We have an opportunity to again make some real change and some forward progress.”
Florida lawmakers could weigh their options to expand the medical program during the next legislative session.