{"id":2512555,"date":"2025-11-19T19:20:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T00:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-moves-forward-with-legal-marijuana-amendment\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T19:22:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T00:22:37","slug":"florida-moves-forward-with-legal-marijuana-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-moves-forward-with-legal-marijuana-amendment\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida moves forward with legal marijuana amendment"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-moves-forward-with-legal-marijuana-amendment%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2512555&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Florida will place a constitutional amendment to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-was-recreational-marijuana-use-recently-legalized-in-minnesota\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Was Recreational Marijuana Use Recently Legalized In Minnesota?\">legalize recreational marijuana<\/a> on the 2026 ballot following a lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis.The activist group Smart &#038; Safe Florida challenged DeSantis after their 2024 proposal failed to reach the required 60% voter approval. they accused the governance of obstructing the amendment process despite gathering sufficient signatures to qualify. The Florida Division of Elections has now sent the proposed amendment to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nevada-trump-campaign-says-clark-county-registrar-joe-gloria-hiding-from-subpoena-service\/\" title=\"Nevada: Trump Campaign Says Clark County Registrar Joe Gloria Hiding From Subpoena Service\">state attorney general<\/a>, responding to Smart &#038; Safe&#8217;s demands after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/james-comer-announces-contempt-hearings-for-fbi-director-christopher-wray\/\" title=\"Comer schedules contempt hearings for FBI Director Wray.\">officials initially refused<\/a> to advance the measure. While the DeSantis administration contends the lawsuit should be dismissed, Smart &#038; Safe maintains the state has deliberately blocked the initiative, leading to ongoing legal battles over the amendment&#8217;s placement on the ballot.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Florida to put marijuana amendment on 2026 ballot after lawsuit against DeSantis&nbsp;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2401893\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A constitutional amendment that could legalize recreational <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marijuana\/\">marijuana<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\">Florida<\/a> will move forward ahead of the 2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/election\/\">election<\/a>, Florida officials announced this week.<\/p>\n<p>The activist organization behind the effort, Smart &amp; Safe Florida, argued in court that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) attempted to strike down their proposal after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-delicate-talks-led-to-unlikely-end-of-assanges-12-year-saga-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"How delicate talks led to unlikely end of Assange\u2019s 12-year saga - Washington Examiner\">amendment fell short<\/a> of the 60% when Floridians voted on the measure in 2024. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3892336\/lawmaker-urges-maryland-virginia-counties-secede-join-west-virginia\/\">Lawmaker urges Maryland and Virginia counties to secede and join West Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3892169\/ron-desantis-urges-gop-produce-results-ahead-2026-instead-of-2028-elections\/\">DeSantis urges GOP to produce &#8216;results&#8217; ahead of 2026 instead of 2028<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3891813\/adams-era-nypd-commissioner-jessica-tisch-zohran-mamdani\/\">Adams-era NYPD commissioner to stay in role under Mamdani<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In response to the lawsuit, the Division of Elections Director Maria Matthews sent the proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution directly to Florida&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/attorneys-general\/\">attorney general<\/a> on Monday, something that Smart &amp; Safe Florida requested the division to do after state officials refused to in late October.<\/p>\n<p>The DeSantis administration responded to the group&rsquo;s complaint, claiming that the lawsuit should have been dismissed, along with the proposed ballot amendment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Florida Attorney General James Uthemeir and Secretary of State Cord Byrd both argued that the lawsuit is irrelevant and should be dismissed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Smart &amp; Safe&rsquo;s most recent lawsuit against the DeSantis administration over its <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recreational marijuana proposal marks<\/a> their second suit this year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The organization filed the lawsuit on Oct. 31 against the DeSantis administration, alleging it had notified Matthews and Secretary of State Cord Byrd in August that their petition to place the amendment on the ballot once again had secured more than three times the number of verified signatures required for the proposal to be placed on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Smart &amp; Safe then asked the officials to take the next step in the ballot initiative process, which would be to provide the organization with confirmation in order for them to proceed with the process.<\/p>\n<p>Byrd did not issue a response to the organization, citing that Smart &amp; Safe&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/petitions\/\">petition<\/a> fell short of the signature threshold.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1205978\/the-ballot-initiative-that-could-legalize-recreational-marijuana-in-the-sunshine-state\/\"><strong>THE BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT COULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN THE SUNSHINE STATE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As a result, the organization then filed a lawsuit on Oct. 19, alleging that Byrd directed state officials to dispose of roughly one-third of the signatures, citing that the organization did not provide the full <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3496447\/recriminalize-marijuana-trump-drug-reclassification\/\">proposed amendment<\/a> to voters when asking them to sign.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In its petition, Smart &amp; Safe demanded the Florida Supreme Court force the state to send the letter granting the organization permission to proceed with the ballot amendment process, alleging that Florida was purposely roadblocking the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog-posts\/florida-voters-reject-marijuana-legalization-amendment\/\">marijuana amendment<\/a> by attempting to stall Smart &amp; Safe&rsquo;s proposal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida to place marijuana amendment on 2026 ballot after lawsuit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4015,"featured_media":2512556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Colorado-marijuana.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5113,4431,5561],"class_list":["post-2512555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-florida","tag-legal","tag-marijuana"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Colorado-marijuana.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2512555"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2512559,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512555\/revisions\/2512559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2512556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2512555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2512555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2512555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}