On November 5th, Florida voters decided against the proposed Amendment 3, which aimed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The amendment required a supermajority of 60% to pass but fell short with only 56% support, failing to meet the necessary threshold.
Had it been approved, Amendment 3 would have permitted adults to possess up to 3 ounces (around 85 grams) of marijuana for personal use and allowed medical marijuana businesses to sell the substance for recreational purposes. Additionally, the amendment proposed granting licenses to non-medical entities to cultivate, transport, distribute, and sell marijuana throughout the state.
According to information from Local 10, besides the consumer benefits, proponents of the amendment emphasized the economic potential of the recreational marijuana industry, estimating annual sales tax revenues between $200 million and $400 million. Despite significant investment from medical cannabis companies in support of legalization, the measure did not garner the required backing, thus recreational marijuana remains illegal in Florida.