The proposed amendment faced opposition from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who argued that the ballot summary could mislead voters by suggesting marijuana would be legal federally when it remains illegal. However, the Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, ruled that the language was not misleading.
The majority justices, including Charles Canady, Jorge Labarga, and John Couriel, stated that the summary clearly indicates the amendment's intention to legalize adult personal possession and use of marijuana under Florida law. Justices Carlos Muñiz and Jamie Grosshans also supported the decision, offering their own opinions.
In contrast, Justices Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso dissented, agreeing that the language could mislead voters.
The initiative has garnered support from over 1 million Florida voters and is spearheaded by the group Smart & Safe Florida. Trulieve, a marijuana company, has contributed nearly $40 million to the initiative.
Kim Rivers, Trulieve's CEO, expressed gratitude for the Court's ruling and looks forward to supporting the campaign as it heads to the ballot.
Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody have voiced their opposition to the amendment, citing concerns about its broad scope and potential impact on public consumption.
If approved, the amendment would take effect six months after the election, allowing adults 21 and older to purchase marijuana products from existing licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. Florida currently has 25 qualified treatment centers with over 600 dispensaries statewide.