Florida's marijuana legalization referendum fails to meet required support

Florida's referendum to legalize recreational marijuana, known as Amendment 3, has failed to secure the necessary 60% supermajority, receiving only 42.9% of the vote. This outcome is seen as a victory for Governor Ron DeSantis, who opposed the measure. DeSantis criticized the amendment, claiming it primarily benefited a single marijuana company, Trulieve, rather than the public. He argued that the amendment did not allow for personal cultivation of marijuana, limiting its benefits. Other states also voted on marijuana legalization, with 24 states having fully legalized it. Florida remains among the 20 states that have only partially legalized marijuana for medical use.