Amendment 3. Legalization of recreational marijuana.

Amendment 3 is one of two amendments placed on the ballot by citizens rather than legislators (the second is Amendment 4). Its passage would make the use of marijuana legal for adults over 21, determine the volume and define the business market for it.

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It is important to note: the amendment is a diagram. If voters approve it, the Florida Legislature will then write specific rules, regulations and restrictions for its implementation, which could include regulating where and how it does so with tobacco.

It’s a similar process when voters approved an amendment to legalize medical marijuana eight years ago. Amendment 3 uses the same language as the medical marijuana amendment as its basis and structure.

Amendment 3 would allow adults 21 years of age and older to legally purchase and possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana and use it for personal use. The amendment also adds who can grow and sell it. Initially there will be only 25 licensed medical marijuana companies with more than 600 dispensaries throughout the state. But Amendment 3 would also allow lawmakers to license non-medical entities to grow, purchase, transport, distribute and sell marijuana.

The legal recreational marijuana industry is expected to become big business, government analysts say. Based on sales tax projections, they project between $200 million and $400 million a year will flow into the state once legal marijuana becomes fully operational. There is currently no time frame to predict this.

This profit incentive may explain why the cannabis companies funding this amendment are set to spend a collective $100 million on efforts to legalize marijuana in Florida.

Proponents also cite the cost savings, both personal and for law enforcement, from decriminalizing marijuana for personal use, which is estimated to spare about 200,000 people each year from arrest and incarceration.

Currently, marijuana use is legal in 24 states. Voters in North and South Dakota will also decide in Florida in November.

A “yes” vote on Amendment 3 would support the legalization of adult personal use of marijuana in Florida starting in mid-2025.

A “no” vote would leave in place existing laws, including those regarding the medical use of marijuana.

VIEW ALL RESULTS: South Florida general election results for November 5, 2024.