Florida officials under Governor Ron DeSantis are stepping up their opposition to a proposed ballot measure that would allow recreational marijuana, drawing county election offices into the fight and prompting accusations that the state is trying to derail the effort before voters weigh in.
Critics say the administration’s actions amount to an aggressive campaign against legalization at a time when public backing appears to be weakening. Florida requires at least 60% voter approval to amend its constitution, and recent polling suggests support for adult-use cannabis is well below that mark.
The latest push comes from Smart and Safe Florida, a group backed largely by Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a multistate cannabis company based in Tallahassee. The group is again seeking to place a legalization amendment on the ballot, this time targeting the 2026 election. A similar attempt in 2024 failed, even after it received a high-profile endorsement from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
This election cycle, opponents within the state government have intensified their scrutiny. The DeSantis administration has filed a challenge with the Florida Supreme Court that raises several objections, including concerns tied to marijuana odor.
A poll released by the Florida Chamber of Commerce found that 51% of likely voters support legal recreational marijuana. That figure represents the lowest level of support recorded in four years.
In a statement issued Friday, the Chamber criticized both the initiative and its financial backers. The organization pointed out that over $200 million has been spent over two election cycles to promote legalization, with nearly all of that funding coming from Trulieve, the state’s largest medical cannabis operator. According to the Chamber, polling trends suggest that voter interest declines as people learn more details about the proposal.
Meanwhile, state election authorities have taken steps that supporters of the amendment view as an attempt to slow or block the process. The Office of Election Crimes & Security recently notified election supervisors in three counties that it plans to audit certain approved petition signatures to confirm they were collected legally.
Smart and Safe Florida responded by accusing state leaders of trying to silence more than one million voters who signed petitions in compliance with the law. The group faces a February 1 deadline to submit 880,000 signatures. As of this week, about 675,000 signatures have been validated, according to state records.
Outside Florida, Trulieve continues to expand its footprint. The company recently announced plans to enter the Texas market, where lawmakers are considering changes that would broaden its medical marijuana program.
Entities like Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) in the cannabis industry will be watching how efforts to get adult-use marijuana on this year’s ballot in Florida pan out amid growing opposition from state officials and waning voter support.
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