Florida adult-use cannabis legalization support dips amid DeSantis ‘political war’

The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a sworn enemy of marijuana legalization, is roping county elections officials into “a political war” to halt an adult-use cannabis measure, one critic said.

And the state’s continued efforts to halt marijuana legalization come amid recent polling that shows voter support flagging beneath the 60% threshold required for Florida, the country’s biggest medical-only market, to finally transition to adult use.

Smart & Safe Florida, a ballot initiative campaign funded by Tallahassee-headquartered marijuana multistate operator Trulieve Cannabis Corp., is mounting another effort to qualify legalization for the 2026 ballot.

A 2024 effort fell short despite an endorsement from President Donald Trump, then the Republican Party’s presidential nominee.

In this cycle, DeSantis officials are throwing everything they can at the measure, including a lawsuit at the state Supreme Court that focuses in part on cannabis’ smell.

Will Florida adult-use marijuana legalization pass?

As Florida Politics reported, a recent poll released by the state Chamber of Commerce – which also opposes legalization – found only 51% support for adult-use cannabis, the lowest level of support in four years.

Sixty percent support is needed to pass a constitutional amendment in Florida. In 2024, Amendment 3 failed with roughly 56% of voters in support.

The poll surveyed only 602 likely voters and has a margin of error of 4 points, according to Florida Politics.

In a press release Friday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce took a shot at Trulieve and at the legalization effort.

“The lack of support from Floridians over the past two years comes despite more than $200 million being spent to try and pass the amendment over the past two election cycles, over $197 million of which came from Florida’s largest medicinal marijuana provider,” the release read.

“This failure to build momentum for the amendment in polling displays that the more voters learn about legalizing recreational marijuana, the less they like what they learn.”

DeSantis’ ‘political war’ against Florida adult-use cannabis

Meanwhile, officials from the DeSantis administration continue to take steps that critics say are intended to sabotage adult-use marijuana legalization before voters can have their say.

Earlier this week, the state Office of Election Crimes and Security informed elections supervisors in three counties that it would be auditing “certain verified petitions” to “ensure all signatures are legitimate and gathered in accordance with state laws,” the Tampa Bay Times reported.

A representative for elections supervisors told the newspaper that this amounts to “a political war.”

In a statement to the Times, Smart & Safe Florida accused state officials of “using every means necessary to stifle the voices of over a million Florida voters who have lawfully and legally signed petitions.”

Smart & Safe Florida has until Feb. 1 to collect 880,000 verified signatures from registered voters. The campaign has collected 675,000, according to the state elections website.

Despite the struggles in its home state, Trulieve continues to be a major national player.

The company recently announced plans to expand into Texas, where new legislation promises to expand that state’s heretofore modest medical cannabis program.

And the influence of Kim Rivers, Trulieve’s CEO, helped convince Trump to issue last month’s executive order directing the Justice Department to finish marijuana rescheduling.