News broke today that a marijuana legalization initiative’s language was approved in Florida. The campaign can now start accepting signatures for the initiative. As many learned during the 2014 campaign, Florida requires a lot of signatures. Much more than a lot of other states. Gathering enough signatures to get the legalization initiative on the ballot will not be easy, and will not be cheap. But with that being said, it’s absolutely a worthwhile endeavor. The initiative would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by those over 21 years old, and would legalize the cultivation of up to six plants (3 mature) per household. Below is the full initiative language. Visit RegulateFlorida.com to learn more:
BALLOT TITLE: Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol to Establish Age, Licensing, and Other Restrictions.
BALLOT SUMMARY: Regulates marijuana (hereinafter “cannabis”) for limited use and growing by persons twenty-one
years of age or older. State shall adopt regulations to issue, renew, suspend, and revoke licenses for cannabis cultivation,
product manufacturing, testing and retail facilities. Local governments may regulate or prohibit facilities by vote, and license
facilities if state fails to timely act. Does not permit industrial hemp cultivation, affect compassionate use of low-THC
cannabis, nor immunize federal law violations.
ARTICLE AND SECTION BEING CREATED OR AMENDED: Article X, Section 29
FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT:
ARTICLE X, SECTION 29. Florida Cannabis Act —
(a) Purpose and findings.
(1) Short title. On the effective date of this amendment, it shall be known as the “Florida Cannabis Act.”
(2) In the interest of the efficient use of law enforcement resources, enhancing revenue for public purposes, and individual freedom, the people of the
State of Florida find and declare that the use of cannabis should be legal for persons twenty-one years of age or older.
(3) In the interest of the health and public safety of our citizenry, the people of the State of Florida further find and declare that cannabis should be
regulated in a manner similar to alcohol so that:
a. Consumers will have to show proof of age before purchasing cannabis;
b. Selling, distributing, or transferring cannabis to minors under the age of twenty-one shall remain illegal;
c. Driving while impaired under the influence of cannabis shall remain illegal;
d. Only legitimate, taxpaying business people will conduct sales of cannabis; and
e. Cannabis sold in this state will be labeled and subject to additional regulations to ensure that consumers are informed and protected.
(4) The people of the State of Florida further find and declare that it is necessary to ensure consistency and fairness in the application of this section
throughout the state and that, therefore, the matters addressed by this section are, except as specified herein, matters of statewide concern.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Cannabis” means all parts of the plant of the genus Cannabis, as defined in s. 893.02(3), Florida Statutes (2015) or as amended. The term does not
include “low-THC cannabis,” as defined in s. 381.986, Florida Statutes (2015) or as amended (the Compassionate Use of low-THC Cannabis Act), if
manufactured, possessed, sold, purchased, delivered, distributed, or dispensed, in conformance with s. 381.986, for medicinal purposes for persons of
all ages. Nothing in this definition or this section shall be deemed to permit the cultivation of the plant of the genus Cannabis as a raw material for
use of its fiber or pectin, or its structural polymers (the polysaccharides cellulose and hemicelluloses and the aromatic polymer lignin) for any
industrial purpose, including the preparation of functionalized textiles, or for any purpose other than human consumption.
(2) “Cannabis cultivation facility” means an entity licensed to cultivate, prepare, and package cannabis and sell cannabis to retail cannabis stores, to
cannabis product manufacturing facilities, and to other cannabis cultivation facilities, but not to consumers.
(3) “Cannabis establishment” means a cannabis cultivation facility, a cannabis testing facility, a cannabis product manufacturing facility, or a retail
cannabis store.
