What you should know about Amendment 3, Florida's marijuana amendment for the 2024 ballot

When Florida voters cast their ballots Election 2024They have the opportunity to decide whether the state will legalize marijuana for recreational use. They can express their stance by voting “yes” or “no” on Amendment 3, which aims to amend the Florida Constitution.

Here's what you should know about the ballot measure that is one of them six amendments Florida voters are thinking about this election.

What is Amendment 3?

Amendment 3 allows adults 21 years of age or older to possess, purchase and use marijuana for personal, non-medical reasons. It sets limits on how much people can legally carry – up to 85 grams of marijuana or 5 grams of marijuana concentrate.

It would also allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell marijuana to recreational users. State-licensed companies could be authorized to grow, process and distribute the product.

A “yes” vote on the amendment supports legalizing recreational marijuana for those 21 and older, while a “no” vote supports maintaining the system that only makes marijuana available for medical purposes.

To be adopted, the amendment must receive at least 60% of the vote. If so, Florida will join 24 other states in approving recreational use of marijuana. However, recreational use of marijuana would still be illegal at the federal level, which could create legal complexities.

If the measure passes, only medical marijuana treatment centers and other state-licensed facilities would initially be allowed to sell recreational marijuana. Ultimately, new legislation could allow licensing for other companies.

Polls on Amendment 3

A CBS News/YouGov poll in May found that 56% of likely voters would vote “yes” on Amendment 3, while 30% would vote “no.” Fourteen percent remained undecided.

Recently, in August, a Florida Atlantic University (FAU) poll found that 56% of all voters supported marijuana legalization, with most support coming from voters ages 18 to 49.

Who supports and opposes Amendment 3?

Proponents of Amendment 3 argue that legalizing marijuana will curb the black market and ensure marijuana products sold are safe and regulated. They also suggest that decriminalizing marijuana could free up law enforcement resources and reduce nonviolent drug crimes.

Proponents also argue that the marijuana industry is “sustainable and growing” and would save taxpayers money by not having to pay to prosecute possession crimes.

Although some Republicans oppose the measure, former President Donald Trump, who lives in Florida, said he would support Amendment 3 on the vote.

Opponents, meanwhile, say legalizing marijuana could lead to an increase in unregulated drug use, make streets less safe and negatively impact youth. Some also believe that crime rates could increase due to the greater availability of marijuana.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, opposes the change, as does the Republican senator. Rick Scottwho said he opposed Amendment 3 because of his brother's long history of addiction. He said his brother, Roger Scott, who died in April, began smoking marijuana as a teenager and struggled with substance abuse for the rest of his life.

Former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala wrote in a Miami Herald editorial in September that the change would create a “new addiction-for-profit industry” in Florida. She drew parallels to the actions of the tobacco industry.