Florida’s amendment to legalize recreational marijuana failed to meet the 60% needed to pass, despite it receiving more “yes” votes.
Amendment 3 asked voters to consider a state constitutional amendment that would allow for the possession, purchase, and use of marijuana for non-medical purposes by adults 21 and up. It was sponsored by Smart & Safe Florida.
The amendment would have also allowed the Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and other licensed state entities to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute marijuana products and accessories.
Here’s a look at how Florida now compares to other states’ laws regarding marijuana.
Did marijuana pass in Florida? How many votes Amendment 3 got
Despite receiving 55.9% of votes, Amendment 3 did not achieve the 60% threshold needed to pass. It saw 5,934,139 votes in total.
Marijuana amendment didn’t pass:But it got more than 50%. Why did that happen?
Is weed legal in Florida after recreational amendment did not pass?
Weed will still be legal but only for some people.
Medical marijuana is currently legal in Florida for residents diagnosed with a specific set of conditions who have applied for and received a Medical Marijuana ID Card or caregivers who have received a Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card.
The qualifying conditions for medical marijuana are currently:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
- AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Comparable medical conditions or status to the above
- A terminal condition
- Chronic nonmalignant pain
Without a Medical Marijuana Card or Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card, if you are caught with pot, you may face fines and prison time under Florida law.
States where marijuana passed in the 2024 election
Along with Florida, three other states had marijuana on their ballots. Also in Massachusetts, where medical and recreational marijuana is already legal, voters weighed in on the possibility of legalizing psychedelics.
Here’s what the states voted for after the election:
- Nebraska – Initiative 437 passed with 71% and Initiative 438 passed with 67%.
- North Dakota – Measure 5 did not pass after receiving 52.5% of “No” votes.
- South Dakota – Measure 29 did not pass after receiving 57% of “No” votes.
- Massachusetts – Question 4 did not pass after receiving 56.9% of “No” votes.
What states have legal recreational marijuana?
As of Nov. 6, 2024, recreational marijuana is currently legal in 25 states, including Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories. Here’s the list:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Guam
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- The U.S. Virgin Islands
What states have legalized medical marijuana?
As of Nov. 6, 13 states and Puerto Rico have legalized the use of medical marijuana:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kentucky
- Lousiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Puerto Rico
Where is marijuana still illegal in the U.S.? See states
Marijuana is still mostly illegal in 12 states, as well as one U.S. territory. Here’s where:
- American Samoa
- Georgia – Decriminalized in certain cities and counties; Use of low-grade CDB under 0.5% is legal
- Idaho – Use of low-grade CDB under 0.1% is legal
- Indiana – Use of low-grade CDB under 0.3% is legal
- Iowa – Legal to possess up to an amount of THC not exceeding 4.5 grams per 90-day period
- Kansas – CBD oil (containing 0% THC) is legal for any use
- North Carolina – CBD is legal
- South Dakota – CBD oil (containing 0.9% THC) is legal for any use
- Tennessee – CBD oil (containing 0.9% THC) is legal for any use
- Texas – CBD oil (no more than 1% THC and no less than 10% CBD) is legal
- Wisconsin – Decriminalized in certain cities; CBD is legal
- Wyoming – CBD is legal
Is marijuana legal in the US on a federal level?
No, recreational marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. According to U.S. News, marijuana is classified at the federal level as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that the government believes it to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. Cultivating, distributing, and possessing marijuana violates federal drug laws.
On Oct. 6, President Biden announced he was pardoning people with federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana, USA TODAY reported. The president’s pardon also blocks future federal prosecutions for simple possession.
Contributing: C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
