A proposal to legalize recreational cannabis in Florida will not appear on the state’s 2026 ballot, according to state election officials, dealing a blow to advocates who had hoped to bring the issue before voters this November.
The citizen-led constitutional amendment fell short of the required number of verified petition signatures needed to qualify. Under Florida law, campaigns must submit hundreds of thousands of valid signatures from registered voters across the state to secure ballot placement. Officials said the marijuana measure did not meet that threshold by the deadline.
Backers of the initiative dispute the determination, arguing that more than enough petitions were turned in and that not all submissions may have been fully processed. The campaign has suggested further review or legal action could follow, though time constraints and election rules present significant hurdles.
The setback halts what had been one of the most closely watched ballot efforts in the state. Florida already permits medical marijuana, but attempts to expand legalization to adult recreational use have repeatedly faced legal, procedural, and political challenges.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
