Amendment 3: Where things stand 60 days till the election

Florida voters will head to the voting booth on Nov. 5 not only to vote on the next president of the United States but on key state amendments that include legalizing the use of recreational marijuana.

Sponsored by Smart and Safe Florida, Amendment 3 would allow adults 21 years of age or older to "possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise."

In addition, Smart and Safe Florida has received heavy monetary support from Trulieve, the state's largest medical marijuana company.

The amendment, if passed, would also allow Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to "acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, and sell such products and accessories."

In May, the Florida Republican Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing Amendment 3, as well as Amendment 4, which would protect abortion access in the state.

“Floridians are confident that their legislature has been passing laws that reflect the priorities of our state," GOP Chairman Evan Power said. "Amendments 3 and 4 are unnecessary attempts by an increasingly shrinking minority who know the only way to win support for their radical agenda is to confuse and mislead the electorate."

Moreover, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has expressed his opposition to Amendment 3, arguing the state would "start to smell like marijuana" in cities and towns, and from the looks of it, the measure could be in trouble of not receiving the mandatory 60 percent vote need to pass.

The governor's decision also is a break from former President Donald Trump, who recently signaled his support for the amendment on Truth Social.

Locally, the Florida Republican Mayors Association applauded the City of Hialeah and Mayor Esteban Bovo in April for unanimously opposing Amendment 3.

"We commend the @cityofhialeah for its unanimous resolution opposing this amendment at last night's council meeting," the Association said at the time.

While support for Amendment 3 on the state level by Republicans has been few and far between, the measure has garnered support from Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who echoed Trump's support on X.

"I am incredibly proud to have President Trump stand alongside us in our effort to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for simple possession of marijuana and to give Floridians the same individual freedom to choose safe, tested products that more than half the country already enjoys," Gruters said. "Our shared goals to expand our freedoms and keep Floridians safe from fentanyl-laced marijuana from the illicit market is why Amendment 3 has broad support and will pass in November."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, or ACLU, also recently issued their support to the measure.

“ACLU of Florida is proud to join many other organizations to endorse Amendment 3 on the November ballot,” Executive Director for ACLU of Florida Bacardi L. Jackson said. “Amendment 3 is a significant step forward in respecting the personal freedom of Floridians and is crucial in addressing the disproportionate impact that the criminalization of marijuana possession and use has had on Florida’s Black community and other communities targeted by the criminal legal system."

Polls have been mixed if Amendment 3 will pass. Under Florida law, the measure must receive more than 60% of the vote.