7 Pros of Florida Cannabis Legalization – Amendment 3

October 27, 2024

It’s almost time for Florida to make a big decision: should the state join the growing list of 420-friendly states or stick to its medical program? The vote on Amendment 3 takes place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. For the amendment to pass, 60% of voters need to approve it.

What are the potential benefits of legalizing recreational weed in Florida?

It’s nice to look at the positives first and foremost. If what happened in other states is remotely similar to what rec could do in Florida, there’s likely huge potential for jobs, tax revenue, and an economic boost. But maybe most importantly of all, people couldn’t really get in trouble for having or using it anymore. It all comes down to ensuring that implementation goes smoothly. Florida will have to build a rec program from scratch, but the state could take notes from others who have been successful over the years through their own trial and error.

1. Rec Could Create Jobs and Boost the Economy

Legalizing recreational cannabis in Florida could open the door to plenty of economic opportunities. States like Colorado and California have shown that cannabis can be a powerful driver of job creation and economic activity. In Colorado, for instance, the cannabis industry created approximately 18,000 full-time jobs every year since legalization, and in just its second year of recreational sales, the state generated $129 million in tax revenue.

If you consider that Florida has a much larger population compared to Colorado along with a thriving tourism industry, analysts suggest that Florida could see similar, if not better results. For a state that thrives on tourism and agriculture, cannabis could be a new pillar in its economy, creating jobs directly within the industry and in related fields like retail, marketing, security, and real estate.

2. It Could Increase Tax Revenue and Fund Public Programs

One of the strongest arguments for recreational cannabis legalization is the potential to use those delicious excise tax dollars to fund public programs, fix up roads, and give public schools and hospitals more money. States that have already legalized recreational cannabis, like Colorado and Washington, have seen millions of dollars in additional funding flow into public services..

In Colorado, for example, $40 million in cannabis tax revenue has been allocated toward public school construction. Meanwhile, in Washington and California, tax dollars have been funneled into public health programs, mental health services, housing initiatives, and probably politicians pockets.

For Florida, with its current tax exemptions on medical marijuana, recreational cannabis could be a major source of new revenue. Projections suggest it could generate at least $196 million in taxes annually.

However, the reality in some states hasn’t always matched the lofty promises made by legalization campaigns. Most rec campaigns claim that tax revenue will be used to improve roads, public schools, hospitals, and other public programs. However, California and Colorado, for example, have diverted a lot of their revenue to cover regulatory costs, leaving less money for things people care about than initially promised.

3. It Could Make Cannabis Safer To Use

In some states where recreational cannabis is legal, there are a lot of regulations put in place to meet different health and safety standards. When a state goes rec, it can start serving more people, and as a result, new regulations tend to be put in place to protect people.

It includes things like mandatory testing for harmful substances, including pesticides, mold, and other contaminants, which provides transparency. While child-resistant packaging is already used for Florida medical products, they may require clearer health warnings and more accurate labeling for THC content and contaminants.

Ultimately, that allows for better regulation and control over the quality of cannabis products, reducing the risks associated with buying from unregulated black market sources, where safety is not guaranteed. Data from Colorado shows that emergency room visits related to marijuana use have decreased over time as the state’s regulatory framework has improved product safety.

4. Rec Might Allow Florida to Rethink Criminal Justice

In states like Washington, marijuana-related arrests have plummeted. Before legalization, Washington recorded over 5,000 marijuana possession arrests annually. After legalization, that number dropped to just 120 in the first year alone. This dramatic reduction in arrests has freed up law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes, like violent offenses and drug trafficking.

For Florida, legalization could offer similar benefits. Reducing marijuana-related arrests would not only save the state millions in law enforcement and judicial costs, but it could also alleviate the racial disparities that have long existed in marijuana enforcement.

However, in many states, black and brown people are still disproportionately arrested for marijuana offenses despite similar usage rates as white people. In Colorado, for example, people of color are still more than twice as likely to be jailed for cannabis than white people, even though white people are using cannabis at the same rate.

The nice part is that rec would open the door for the conversation around criminal justice reform and social equity to be had. Legalization could mean expungement and the release of people jailed for cannabis, address disparities, and reallocate resources towards more pressing safety concerns, which could ultimately lead to a more just system.

5. It Might Reduce the Black Market

One of the key arguments for legalizing recreational cannabis anywhere is always the impact it’ll have on the black market. Whether it’s residents pulling legal cannabis products from different states into their home state, or buying it illegally, there’s always been a market for marijuana — and Florida wants its cut. Most people just want to legally use it without fear of being arrested or getting caught traveling with it.

However, some evidence suggests that legalization does reduce the influence of the black market and bring revenues back into legal states cleanly. In states like Colorado and Washington, the black market has been weakened as more people opt for regulated, safer products sold in dispensaries. Legal domestic production has cut into the profits of drug cartels and illegal growers, reducing the flow of unregulated weed across state and federal borders.

However, California still struggles with a massive black market, mainly because California’s taxes (a whopping 15%) and prices of legal weed are ridiculously high. When legal cannabis is more expensive than what’s available on the street, people turn to illegal sellers. California’s black market has seen an influx of clandestine operations producing cannabis concentrates, flower, and more.

For Florida, keeping taxes and regulatory costs reasonable will be key to minimizing black market activity. While the state could generate substantial tax revenue, over-taxing cannabis could push people back to illegal markets. The key is going to be reasonable regulation and taxing to eliminate the black market.

6. It Could Be Safer For the Public Than Alternatives

Supporters of rec legalization argue that it could offer public health and safety benefits by providing a safer alternative to alcohol and tobacco. Research consistently shows that cannabis is less harmful than both alcohol, which is linked to 178,000 deaths annually in the U.S., and tobacco, which causes various forms of cancer and heart disease. Unlike these substances, there are no recorded cases of death from a marijuana overdose.

For Florida, this could mean providing residents with a legal, regulated option that poses fewer health risks than the substances many people already use. Data from Washington state, for example, suggests that youth cannabis use decreased after legalization, debunking concerns that legalization would increase teen consumption. This is largely due to strict regulations on child-resistant packaging, serving size limits, and clear labeling, all of which Florida already implements to protect minors.

The Smart and Safe Florida campaign also highlights that legal, regulated cannabis is a safer alternative to alcohol, which has a long history of contributing to social issues like addiction, violence, and impaired driving. By providing an option that is generally viewed as less risky, Florida could see positive shifts in public health outcomes similar to those observed in other states.

7. It Would Give Floridians the Freedom to Use Cannabis Legally Without Fear of Persecution

Last but not least, the most obvious reason to be “for” recreational weed in Florida is the chance to use it without worrying about getting arrested for it. For years, cannabis users in Florida and across the U.S. have faced criminal charges for possession, even as societal views on cannabis have evolved. A 2023 Gallup poll found that 70% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. In Florida, support for legalization is growing each week, with recent polls showing 66% of likely voters in favor of Amendment 3.

Amendment 3 would allow adults 21 and older to enjoy cannabis in their homes without the worry of legal consequences, which, for many, is a long-awaited shift. However, there is a key limitation that some see as an issue: Amendment 3, as it currently stands, does not allow for home cultivation of cannabis. This remains a sticking point for people who want to grow their own plants, though the amendment’s backers have stated that this will need to be addressed in a future vote due to Florida’s single-measure rule.

Even with this restriction, the ability to purchase and use cannabis legally would be a huge win for Floridians who just want to do their thing legally.