Large marijuana grow operation – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Canna Obscura
On election day, Florida will become the 25th state to legalize adult recreational marijuana use if a sufficient number of Floridians vote “yes” on Amendment 3.
For a number of reasons, a long line of lawmakers and detractors, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have been outspoken in their opposition to the plan. One of the most common arguments, which is reiterated by people opposed to the amendment and repeated in numerous “vote no on three” advertising, is that Florida will “smell like weed.”
There would be a “lack of restrictions” on where marijuana might be used in public, according to DeSantis and his supporters of the amendment.
Here’s where smoking will and won’t be permitted in Florida if the amendment is approved, along with how it stacks up against alcohol consumption regulations.
Amendment 3: What is it? What would happen in Florida if Amendment 3 is approved?
Florida would become the 25th state to legalize recreational marijuana usage in addition to medical use if voters approve the amendment next week. Users of marijuana would still have to purchase their stuff from authorized outlets.
Here are some anticipated outcomes if Amendment 3 is approved in Florida. It would:
- Stop the legislature from imposing restrictions on the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana.
- Legalize personal use of marijuana for adults aged 21 and up.
- Legalize marijuana, marijuana products, and marijuana accessories for use, transportation, processing, and possession.
In order to maintain the current medical marijuana statute, Note 1 A. of Florida Statute 381.986 2020 must be repealed. Otherwise, the law will expire six months after “a constitutional amendment related to cannabis or marijuana is adopted.”
If Amendment 3 is approved, how would Florida’s marijuana regulations compare to its alcohol regulations? When will marijuana be allowed in Florida?
Despite popular belief, the passage of Amendment 3 would not grant the right to smoke anytime and whenever one pleases. The actual situation will resemble Florida’s existing alcohol possession and consumption regulations.
As with alcohol and tobacco, the Legislature has the authority to pass laws that guarantee hygienic, family-friendly public areas, according to Smart & Safe Florida.
Furthermore, marijuana will not immediately become legal in Florida even if voters choose “yes” on Tuesday. The regular 2025 Legislative Session of the Legislature does not begin until March, and it may take several months for an amendment to become law following a successful referendum.
Even if the vote is successful, the state Legislature still needs to determine the specifics of the law’s implementation, including rules governing marketing, smoking locations, and the maximum amount of marijuana that can be purchased at once.
Morgan Hill, a spokesman for Smart & Safe Florida, stated earlier this year that the organization is dedicated to providing safe access to cannabis products while giving the legislature the authority to pass comprehensive laws that cover everything from cultivation to consumption, including where individuals are permitted to smoke in public.
“Regardless of the industry, such protections are standard when any policy is implemented in our state.”
In Florida, is it legal to smoke marijuana in public?
Even if you have a medical marijuana card, you are now prohibited from smoking marijuana in public in Florida.
Is Delta 9 available in Florida? Does Florida have a ban on Delta 8?
In Florida, it is allowed to use delta 9 and delta 8 THC, sometimes known as “diet weed.”
You can purchase low-level THC products from your neighborhood smoke shop, even though it is illegal to purchase and consume actual marijuana in Florida without a medical marijuana license.
Are ordinary cannabis and delta 8 the same thing?
Compared to the cannabinoid that gives “real” marijuana its high, delta-8 compounds have less potent psychoactive effects. Cannabis sativa plants include both hemp and marijuana. While CBD and delta-8 THC are derived from hemp plants, the cannabis that is sold in medical dispensaries is derived from marijuana plants.
The FDA website states that although the cannabis plant naturally produces over 100 different cannabinoids, delta-8 THC is not present in appreciable quantities. Therefore, hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) is usually used to make concentrated levels of delta-8 THC.
Is it possible to fail a drug test with Delta 8?
Like CBD, delta-8 THC is derived from hemp, but its molecular makeup is very close to that of the cannabinoid that provides marijuana its euphoric effects.
Delta-8 may appear on a drug test, according to Quest Diagnostics, GoodRX, and Healthline. The frequency of your delta-8 consumption, physical characteristics such as your weight, and the amount of time that elapses between your delta-8 consumption and the drug test will determine whether you can take it before you have to take it.
According to Quest Diagnostics’ website, “a presumptive test for a person who has used a delta-8 product (which may be legal in the state where he or she resides) may give a false-positive for delta-9-THC.” “Delta-8-THCA can obstruct the detection of delta-9-THCA, resulting in a false-negative on definitive testing, because the two metabolites also share the same molecular weight and very similar chemical properties.”
How many votes will Florida need to legalize marijuana?
A “yes” vote on Amendment 3 might allow the possession of up to 5 grams of concentrate and 3 ounces of flower.
Supermajority support is required for the amendment to pass, which means that at least 60% of the votes must be “yes.” Furthermore, the modification may still be challenged in court even if it is approved next week.
Election Day 2024: When is it?
On Tuesday, November 5, the general election will take place.
When does Florida’s early voting period end? Important Florida voting dates
In Florida, early voting is required by state law to begin at least eight days before to an election and to conclude the weekend before the election. However, a number of counties are permitting early voting until Sunday, November 3, two days before to the election.
This weekend is the final opportunity to cast an early ballot in Florida.
General election early voting period: October 25–November 2.
The Supervisor of Elections for each county may decide to extend the number of early voting days by one day or by up to five days.
Election Day: November 5
These are the times and dates for each Florida county’s early voting.
Where can I cast my early ballot? How to locate the voting location
Visit the website of your county’s supervisor of elections or use the voter precinct search tool provided by Florida’s Divisions of Elections to locate the nearest early voting location in your area, along with the dates and hours for early voting in your county. To locate early voting locations, there can be an additional “early voting” link.
Voting in your county is mandatory, but if you cast your ballot early, you are exempt from voting in the precinct to which you were assigned. To cast a ballot in Florida, you must have a signed ID. You can cast a ballot without identification, but the Supervisor of Elections will check the provisional ballot you are issued.
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Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.
