Florida reacts to failure of marijuana amendment

Florida recreational marijuana The amendment failed on Tuesday—and the Internet exploded in response.

Amendment 3 would allow individuals 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, or five grams, in concentrated form.

This turned into The most expensive battle for the ballot in the country and warring parties presented sharply contrasting pictures Florida’s future if marijuana legislation passes.

Here’s how Florida leaders, politicians, marijuana growers and other politicians reacted to the news:

Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers looks to the future

Trulive spent a fortune to get Amendment 3 passed. Florida’s largest medical marijuana operator contributed most of the more than $150 million raised. from Smart & Safe Floridagroup campaigning for legalization.

This mountain of money was not enough.

“I’m proud to have fought this fight—we left it all on the field,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said in an interview. statement on Tuesday evening. “We look forward to working with the Legislature on the next steps to ensure safe access to marijuana for adults in Florida, decriminalizing personal possession and home cultivation.”

Florida Chamber of Commerce Takes a Victory Lap

The Florida Chamber of Commerce typically opposes constitutional amendments, and Amendment 3 was no exception. On Friday, the government praised itself for defeating the measure.

“The Florida Chamber of Commerce has united the business community to help repeal the Third Amendment prohibiting drugs in the Florida Constitution,” it said in an emailed statement.

The group also said on social networks: “Amendment 3 has gone up in smoke! Thankful for standing with Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, law enforcement and local businesses to protect our Constitution and keep Florida, Florida. #Don’tCaliforniaMyFlorida.”

The CEO of a major marijuana producer calls the result “disappointing”

The CEO and chairman of one of Florida’s largest medical marijuana companies called the failure of Amendment 3 “disappointing.”

“This initiative represents a significant opportunity to expand access to vetted, regulated legal cannabis for Floridians,” said Boris Jordan of Curaleaf. in the statement. “We are grateful to everyone who supported Amendment 3, remain optimistic about the future, and will persist in our efforts to bring about positive change in Florida and beyond.”

The company poured several million dollars into the campaign for the amendment. In an interview last month, Jordan told USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida that he expected the measure to pass.

Curaleaf has more than 60 medical marijuana stores in Florida, but Jordan said it plans to have more than 80 stores open by the time the amendment takes effect in late spring. The company also sharply increased capacity at its Florida processing plants in preparation for its recreational products.

“We invested almost $70 million in Florida this year,” Jordan said at the time. “We’re investing probably another $20 (million) next year, $30 million, to ramp up our capacity so we can meet the demand for adult use.”

In a statement Tuesday night, Jordan stressed that his company’s success “has never depended on this amendment.”

“We will continue to move forward with the same strategy we acted against,” he said.

Frost calls for federal investigation after measure fails

Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Orlando called for a Justice Department investigation after the failure of Amendment 3, as well as Amendment 4, to address abortion access.

“DeSantis has spent tens of millions of taxpayer money fighting abortion rights and legalizing marijuana,” he said. said on social networks. “This crime and misuse of public dollars must be immediately investigated by the Department of Justice.

The state spent many millions of dollars about advertising against Amendment 3. Smart & Safe Florida, a group campaigning for the amendment, previously said audit found that since September the state has spent about $50 million on television advertising for marijuana alone.

It was mixed with numerous anti-marijuana press conferences the governor has held throughout the state.

DeSantis Chief of Staff Thanked Team for ‘Everything They’ve Sacrificed’

James Utmyer, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff, took to social media Tuesday night to thank the governor and others for “everything they’ve sacrificed.” working on a tank Amendment 3.

“We fought the good fight, we kept the faith and completed the race,” wrote Utmaier, who in his “personal capacity” was a leader in groups advertising against this measure. “To other states facing these problems: you can win, but you must fight!”

He also meant failure to implement Amendment 4abortion access amendment. Dozens of other states Recreational marijuana has already been legalized. But in most states, amendments require only a simple majority vote to pass.

One big reason The ballot battle over Amendments 3 and 4 in Florida was so costly that state voters approved the amendment in 2006, raising the approval threshold from 50% to 60%. Reaching 60% is difficult – this figure in 2006 exceeded only 58%.

Statements from dueling campaigns

While conceding defeat Tuesday night, the group Smart & Safe Florida, which pushed for Amendment 3, said its work isn’t done.

“While Amendment 3 did not meet the 60% threshold, we are committed to working with the Governor and legislative leaders who agree with us to decriminalize recreational marijuana for adults, address public consumption, continue our focus on child safety, and expand access to safe marijuana through home cultivation,” the statement said.

Vote No. 3, the campaign against the amendment, was much less cordial in tone. in his celebratory statement.

“Even after spending more than $150 million—the largest amount in American history to legalize drugs—Florida saw through the web of deceit inherent in the Third Amendment and defeated this corporate power grab,” states Vote #3, a campaign against amendments.

“Here in the Free State of Florida, we protect our children, our way of life and our Constitution.”

(The beginning and headings of this article have been updated for clarity.)

The content of this reporting is supported by partnerships with Freedom Forum and journalism funding partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule resides in Tallahassee, Florida. He can be contacted at: [email protected]. On X: @DouglasSoul.