The Florida Supreme Court ruled Monday in an initiative to legalize the recreational space marijuana use could appear on the state’s ballot in November.
The proposed amendment It would allow people 21 years of age or older to “smoke, ingest, or otherwise possess, purchase, or use for nonmedical personal consumption of marijuana products and marijuana paraphernalia,” and would require medical marijuana treatment centers and other state-licensed facilities to “ to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute such products and accessories.”
The measure, which is opposed by many Republicans, including the state attorney general’s office, would require the approval of 60% of voters to pass.
In an advisory opinionJustice Jamie R. Grosshans said the court would allow the proposed amendment, adding that it meets the requirements of constitutionality and clarity.
“Our role is narrow — we only evaluate whether the amendment meets a constitutionally mandated subject requirement, whether the ballot summary meets the statutory standard for clarity, and whether the amendment is invalid under the federal constitution,” Grosshans said. appointment of Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Given these limited considerations, we approve the proposed amendment for placement on the ballot.”
Cannabis is legal in some form for recreational or medical use in more than 40 states.
Smart & Safe Florida, which sponsored the ballot initiative, welcomed the decision.
“We are pleased that the Court agreed that the ballot language was clear and ruled correctly in favor of giving voters a chance to vote on this important initiative,” he said.
State Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office and a spokeswoman for DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday evening.
Attorney General’s office was opposed proposed ballot measure and requested an advisory opinion on the matter, claiming that the proposal was incorrect.
The court also ruled Monday to uphold a 15-week abortion ban, meaning the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law last year will go into effect. But he decided to give permission proposed amendment would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution to appear on the ballot.
President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign blasted the state’s abortion ban memo first shared with NBC News, suggesting that abortion rights would be “front and center“In November, the state and the issue put the state, which was won twice by former President Donald Trump, within Biden’s reach.