Florida activists have collected a sufficient number of valid signatures to put marijuana legalization on the 2024 ballot, state officials said on Thursday.
As of the end of last May, the Florida Division of Elections verified 967,528 petition signatures. To get the vote in November 2024, the group had to gather 891,523 valid signatures and secure the approval of the Supreme Court.
The move comes after Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody R formally filed the initiative to legalize adult-use marijuana to the state Supreme Court earlier this month.
The court provided more details on the next steps in the case last week. The report also highlighted Moody's opposition to the SmartSafe Florida campaign, against which she submits an opinion calling into question the reform measure based on a single subject challenge.
After making a final decision on the matter, the Court said initial briefings are expected by June 12 and the following reply briefs due for Submission by July 5 and 12 are due for submission by July 5 and 12.
If approved, the proposed bill would allow adults over the age of 21 to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise. The proposal would not allow home cultivation for personal use.
The Florida-based medical cannabis giant Trulieve Cannabis Corp. TRUL TCNNF has poured at least 30 million into the campaign, of which more than $19 million was spent on petition collection and verification expenses.