Marijuana advocates in Florida have submitted a fresh proposal aimed at legalizing recreational cannabis. The new measure comes only two months after a similar one failed to secure the required supermajority vote during the November election. Florida residents will have the opportunity to vote on the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2026 if the measure is approved.
Smart and Safe Florida, the group behind the measure, officially submitted it to the state Elections’ Division on Tuesday. The initiative would legalize recreational cannabis use for individuals 21 years of age or older while establishing regulations for the cultivation, sale, and distribution of marijuana. Under the proposed rules, adults would be allowed to possess a maximum of five grams of cannabis concentrates and two ounces of marijuana.
The revised initiative introduces significant changes compared to last year’s ballot measure to address criticisms that contributed to its failure. One key concern, voiced by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, was that the previous measure would have limited the state legislature’s ability to regulate where marijuana could be consumed.
To address this, the updated proposal explicitly bans vaping and smoking cannabis in public spaces. Additionally, it includes provisions to prevent marijuana packaging and advertising from appealing to children.
Another notable addition to the new initiative is a clause allowing the legislature to authorize adults to grow cannabis at home for personal use under reasonable regulations. This addresses a criticism of the previous proposal, which lacked provisions for home cultivation—a feature many marijuana reform advocates had hoped to see.
The previous attempt to legalize cannabis, Amendment 3, was backed by about 56% of voters in the general election held in November. But it didn’t reach the 60% threshold that Florida law requires. The unsuccessful measure was heavily backed by Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF), the largest supplier of medical cannabis in the state.
Similar to Amendment 3, the latest proposal would permit Florida’s existing medical marijuana businesses to expand into the recreational market, allowing sales to individuals 21 years of age and older. It also requires issuing new licenses to businesses exclusively focused on recreational cannabis.
To qualify for the ballot, Smart and Safe Florida must collect approximately 900,000 valid voters’ signatures. Should the necessary signatures be obtained and the language of the measure be approved by Florida’s Supreme Court, voters will have the opportunity to decide on the proposal in 2026.
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