Welcome to Florida, where the sun is shining, and the debates on legalizing recreational marijuana are heating up. In 2022, a proposed adult-use cannabis bill made its way onto the ballot, sparking discussions about its potential impact on the state.
However, according to a recent poll by The Florida Chamber of Commerce, this bill may not have enough support to pass. But is that really the case? Let’s dive deeper into the polls and see what they have to say about the future of adult-use cannabis in Florida.
As it stands, the proposed adult-use cannabis bill in Florida would allow existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute to adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption. Flower possession limits would be set at one ounce and concentrate set at five grams.
However, there are some key details missing from the bill that have sparked controversy.
Firstly, there is no mention of any new licenses being issued for adult-use cannabis businesses. This would mean that only existing medical cannabis companies, such as Trulieve the bills biggest sponsor, would be able to make the switch to selling to adults over 21. This could potentially limit competition and benefit large corporations, leading some to question the intentions behind the bill’s main sponsor.
Additionally, there is no home grow initiative included in the bill. This means that individuals would not be able to grow their own cannabis for personal use, potentially limiting access and driving up prices for consumers. However, large companies in the state believe this could also mean less profit for them. They would prefer to have a monopoly on the market.
Despite these concerns, the bill has already surpassed signature requirements and is now awaiting approval from the Florida Supreme Court. A final ruling must be made by April 1 in order for the measure to appear on the ballot in 2024.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce Poll Results
The results of a recent poll conducted by The Florida Chamber of Commerce are bringing attention to the potential difficulties facing the proposed adult-use cannabis bill. According to the survey, only 57% of Florida voters support legalizing recreational marijuana, falling short of the 60% threshold required for passage.
One of the main concerns cited by those who do not support the bill is its potential impact on children and businesses. These factors may have contributed to the lower level of support found in the poll.
It is worth noting that the Florida Chamber of Commerce has publicly stated its opposition to the proposed marijuana reform measure. In fact, it is currently under review by the Florida Supreme Court following a legal challenge from state Attorney General Ashley Moody. An attorney representing the chamber even participated in oral arguments before the court last year, seeking to invalidate the initiative from the ballot and prevent voters from having a chance to decide on it, as reported by Marijuana Moment.
“With 144 amendments since its creation in 1968, Florida’s constitution has long been a target of special interest groups with agendas and recreational marijuana is no different,” said Florida Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Wilson. “The Florida Chamber continues to lead the fight it has fought for over 100 years against similar proposed amendments that could be addressed legislatively rather than through altering Florida’s foundational document.”
The Florida Chamber of Commerce political poll was conducted on December 27, 2023 – January 4, 2024, by Cherry Communications during live telephone interviews of likely voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent. The sample size included 237 Democrats, 256 Republicans, and 107 Others, for a total of 600 respondents statewide.
While this poll may have raised concerns about the current level of support for the proposed bill, there is another survey that presents a different perspective.
UNF Poll Results
A recent poll conducted by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab from November 6 through November 26, 2023, presents a different view on the proposed adult-use cannabis bill in Florida. According to this survey, when voters were given specific details about the bill, 67% expressed support for its legalization.
There was majority support for adult use across each political, gender, race, and age demographic that was reported in the survey.
Democrats led the way with 78% in favor, 55% of Republicans, and other parties at 69%. Ages 18-24 showed the highest support for legalization of adult-use cannabis in Florida at 86%; even ages 65 and above held a majority favor at 51%.
It is worth noting that this poll was conducted through a dual-frame, multi-mode design, which combines both telephone and web surveys to ensure a representative sample of likely voters in Florida.
These results suggest a significant increase in support for the bill when compared to The Florida Chamber of Commerce poll. If approved by the courts and moving to the official ballot, this could indicate a strong chance of the bill passing in 2024.
As we can see, there are different perspectives on the support for the proposed adult-use cannabis bill in Florida.
While The Florida Chamber of Commerce poll showed only 57% support, the UNF Public Opinion Research Lab survey reported a 67% majority.
Only time will tell if the bill will make it onto the ballot for voters to decide. However, here at Beard Bros, we believe that the bill is missing crucial elements such as home grow, expungements, and social equity initiatives. Additionally, the current iteration of the bill may only benefit large corporations and not allow for new competition in the market.
Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the topic of adult-use cannabis legalization has sparked debate and will continue to be a hot topic in Florida. As more polls and discussions take place, it is important for voters to stay informed and make their voices heard on this significant issue. So let’s keep the conversation going and see where the future of cannabis legalization in Florida takes us.
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