A push to legalise recreational marijuana in Florida has reached a major milestone. Campaigners have now gathered over 75% of the signatures required to bring the issue to voters in 2026, reigniting hopes after a failed attempt in the previous election cycle.
Smart & Safe Florida, the group spearheading the effort, confirmed this week that they’ve collected more than 661,000 valid signatures, with the official target set at 880,062. That’s no small feat, especially considering they only started the drive in January.
Slow Start, Steady Climb
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for marijuana activists in Florida. After their 2024 proposal was rejected by the state Supreme Court, many feared the momentum might die off. It didn’t.
Within just seven months, campaigners have clawed their way back. State records show the group added another 50,000 signatures in just the last month alone. That’s roughly 1,600 a day—without any recent headline-grabbing events to spark public action.
And that’s not just impressive—it’s rare.
The 2026 ballot might still seem a long way off, but the steady pace indicates they’re well on track. No bells or whistles. Just boots on the ground and pens on paper.
Legalising Weed in Florida: What’s at Stake?
Florida already permits medical marijuana, but this measure would take things further. If passed, adults aged 21 and older could buy, possess, and use marijuana for recreational purposes.
It’s a move that could unlock billions in economic activity, shift criminal justice outcomes, and reshape the state’s social landscape.
But it’s also Florida, and nothing is ever straightforward.
Governor Ron DeSantis and top Republican lawmakers have long opposed full legalisation, warning about potential societal harms. Critics argue that legal weed would lead to increased youth use, impaired driving, and over-commercialisation of cannabis.
Still, public opinion appears to be tilting.
Recent polling from the University of North Florida showed 70% of residents support legalising recreational cannabis—a figure that includes a sizeable chunk of conservative voters.
Ballot Battles: The Road Ahead Isn’t All Signatures
Even if Smart & Safe Florida hits their signature goal, it doesn’t guarantee a spot on the ballot. Not by a long shot.
The state Supreme Court will still have to review the proposal’s language. That was the stumbling block in 2024 when the court ruled the initiative’s wording was “misleading.”
So campaigners are being cautious this time. Their proposed language was revised, stripped of ambiguous phrasing, and restructured with one clear aim: pass constitutional muster.
Here’s where things stand as of August 2025:
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Total Valid Signatures Needed | 880,062 |
| Signatures Collected | 661,327 (as of July 2025) |
| Percent Complete | 75.2% |
| Deadline for Submission | February 1, 2026 |
Legal analysts say the updated text is more likely to hold up under judicial scrutiny, though no guarantees are ever made in Florida’s legal landscape.
Industry Eyes Watch Closely
Big cannabis companies are already paying attention. Trulieve, the state’s largest medical marijuana operator, has been one of the biggest financial backers of the campaign. They reportedly poured over $40 million into the failed 2024 attempt and haven’t shown signs of pulling back this time.
That’s a strategic move. If Florida green-lights recreational use, it would become the most populous state in the South to do so—triggering a domino effect that could shake up regional laws.
Some of the interests watching closely include:
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Multi-state cannabis operators hoping to expand retail licenses.
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Investors banking on future tax revenues and retail profits.
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Lawmakers who see a shift in public mood but fear political fallout.
“There’s a huge market here,” said one industry consultant. “Florida is the gateway to the Southeastern cannabis economy.”
Signature Drives, Volunteers, and Voters
This isn’t just a top-down effort. The campaign is being fuelled by thousands of volunteers, community groups, and everyday Floridians who are tired of waiting.
It’s also being funded by small-dollar donations, in addition to industry money. That grassroots element has helped keep public enthusiasm alive—especially after the disappointment of 2024.
And here’s the thing: support isn’t just concentrated in liberal pockets like Miami or Orlando. Counties across the state, even traditionally conservative ones like Collier and Marion, are reporting high engagement.
One campaign volunteer, 63-year-old David from Fort Myers, summed it up like this: “I never thought I’d be the one standing in a Publix parking lot talking about weed, but here we are.”
Eyes on the Finish Line, But It’s a Long Track
There’s still plenty of work ahead. Even after getting the signatures, and surviving the courts, the campaign needs 60% of voters to say “yes” in 2026 for the measure to pass.
Florida is one of the few states with such a high constitutional amendment threshold. That means every vote really does count. Especially with turnout expected to be lower in 2026 than in presidential election years.
But for now, supporters are feeling encouraged. They’ve got momentum. They’ve got time. And, more than anything, they’ve got Florida’s shifting mood on their side.
