If Amendment 3 passes, Florida’s weed laws could mirror alcohol laws

If enough Floridians vote “yes” on Amendment 3 ON Election dayFlorida will become the 25th state to make recreational marijuana legal for adult use.

A parade of critics and lawmakers, namely Governor Ron DeSantis, have been very vocal in their opposition to the bill for a variety of reasons. One of the most common arguments, repeated in many “Vote No on 3” ads and repeated by opponents of the amendment, is that the state of Florida will “smell like grass.”

DeSantis and those who agree with him on the amendment often say there would be one “no limits” regarding places where marijuana can be used in public places.

Here’s where Floridians will and won’t be able to smoke if the amendment passes, and how it relates to alcohol consumption laws.

What is Amendment 3? What happens if Amendment 3 passes in Florida?

If voters pass the amendment next week, Florida will become a republic The 25th state to legalize marijuana use for fun, not just for medical use. Marijuana users will still be required to purchase marijuana from licensed dispensaries.

If Amendment 3 passes in Florida, here are some of the things predicted. It would be:

Prevent the Legislature from limiting the percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana.
Legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older for personal use.
Legalize the possession, use, processing and transportation of marijuana, marijuana products and marijuana paraphernalia.
Preserving current medical marijuana law through repeal 2020 Note 1 A. Florida Statute 381.986which would otherwise cause it to expire six months after the adoption of a “cannabis or marijuana constitutional amendment.”

How will Florida’s marijuana laws differ from alcohol laws if Amendment 3 is passed? When will marijuana be legal in Florida?

While many assume that the adoption of Amendment 3 would mean the ability to smoke wherever and whenever you want, this is not true. The reality will be very similar to Florida’s current laws regarding the possession and consumption of alcohol.

According to Smart & Safe Florida, the Legislature retains the authority to pass laws to ensure clean, family-friendly public spaces, just as it does with tobacco and alcohol.

And even if Floridians vote “yes” in the polls on Tuesday, marijuana will not immediately become legal in Florida. The 2025 Legislature’s regular legislative session doesn’t start until March, and the process of passing a referendum and turning the amendment into law could take many months.

Even if the referendum passes, the state legislature must decide exactly how the law will be implemented, as well as consider and introduce regulations regarding, among other things, how much marijuana you can buy at one time, marketing rules, and where smoking is and isn’t allowed.

“Smart & Safe Florida is committed to ensuring safe access to cannabis products while empowering the Legislature to enact comprehensive regulations from cultivation to consumption, including where you can smoke in public places,” Smart & Safe Florida spokesperson Morgan Hill he said earlier this year.

“Such protections are customary in implementing any policy in our state, regardless of industry.”

Can I smoke weed in public in Florida?

Currently in Florida you can’t smoke weed in public even if you do medical marijuana card.

Can you have delta 9 in Florida? Is Delta 8 banned in Florida?

Yes, delta 9 THC and delta 8 THC which some call “diet weed” are legal in Florida.

Although you cannot legally purchase or smoke real marijuana in Florida without a medical marijuana license, low-THC products can be purchased at your local smoke shop.

Is delta 8 the same as regular weed?

Delta-8 products have milder psychoactive effects than the cannabinoid that produces the “real” high. Both marijuana and hemp are types of the cannabis sativa plant. The type of weed you buy at medical dispensaries comes from marijuana plants, while CBD and delta-8 THC come from hemp plants.

“Delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by cannabis but is not found in significant amounts,” The FDA website states. “As a result, concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically made from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).”

Can delta 8 make you fail a drug test?

Although delta-8 THC comes from hemp, like CBD, its chemical composition is very similar to the cannabinoid that gives marijuana its euphoric effect.

According to Health line, GoodRX AND Quest Diagnostics, it is possible for delta-8 to show up on a drug test. Whether you can consume delta-8 before taking a drug test will depend on how regularly you consume it, physical characteristics such as weight, and how much time passes between consuming delta-8 and taking the drug test.

“An initial test of a person who has used a delta-8 product (which may be legal in the state in which that person resides) may give a false positive result for delta-9-THC.” According to the Quest Diagnostics website. “These two metabolites also have the same molecular weight and very similar chemical properties, which means that delta-8-THCA may interfere with the detection of delta-9-THCA, leading to false negative results in final tests.”

How many votes does it take to legalize weed in Florida?

A “yes” vote on Amendment 3 could allow up to 3 ounces of flower and up to 5 grams of concentrate.

For the amendment to pass, it must receive majority support, which means at least 60% of the votes will have to answer “yes”. And even if the amendment is adopted next week, then yes he can still be struck down in court.

When is Election Day 2024?

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5.

When does early voting end in Florida? Key voting dates for Floridians

Under state law, early voting always begins in Florida at least eight days before the election and typically ends the weekend before the election. However, many counties allow early voting until two days before the election, on Sunday, November 3.

The last chance to vote early in Florida is this weekend.

Early voting period for general elections: October 25-November 2.
- Each county supervisor of elections may choose to offer more early voting days, starting up to five days earlier or lasting one day longer.
Election Day: November 5

Here early voting dates and times in every Florida county.

Where can I go to vote early? How to find your voting location

To find the nearest early voting site near you and early voting dates and times in your county, visit your county’s Superintendent of Elections website or find one via Florida Department of Elections precinct search tool. There may be an additional “early voting” link to help you find early voting sites.

You must vote in your precinct, but if you vote early, you do not have to vote in your precinct the area assigned to you. ID card with your signature is required to vote in Florida. You can vote without ID, but you will be turned away a provisional ballot that will be checked by the Supervisor of Elections.