Florida’s 2026 Cannabis Legalization Push Gains Momentum—But DeSantis Escalates Medical Crackdown
Florida’s campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2026 is gaining traction, with Smart & Safe Florida surpassing 613,000 verified voter signatures—about 70 percent of what’s needed to land the initiative on the ballot. But even as public support for reform grows, Governor Ron DeSantis is moving in the opposite direction, signing new legislation that threatens the state’s existing medical cannabis program.
A Two-Front Battle: Legalization and Revocation
On the same week the adult-use campaign crossed a major milestone, DeSantis quietly signed SB 2514, a sweeping budget bill containing a controversial provision: Patients and caregivers in Florida’s medical marijuana program will now lose their state registrations if they are convicted of—or plead guilty or no contest to—certain drug crimes.
Under the new law, a medical cannabis registration will be immediately suspended if a patient or caregiver is charged with a state drug offense. The suspension remains in place throughout the legal proceedings. If the individual is convicted of trafficking, selling, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing controlled substances with intent, the Department of Health is mandated to revoke their card.
This provision does not apply to those who merely purchased illegal drugs, as proposed in earlier drafts of the bill. However, critics warn the change could still impact hundreds of Floridians and represents a tightening of access just as the state considers expanding cannabis rights more broadly.
Smart & Safe Florida Eyes the Ballot
Despite the growing backlash from the governor’s office, the Smart & Safe Florida campaign is pushing forward. After failing to pass a similar measure in 2024, the group revamped its proposal with tighter language—banning public smoking and vaping, and granting the legislature authority over how consumption is regulated.
Backed by Trulieve and other major industry stakeholders, the campaign is aiming to hit 880,062 valid signatures across at least 14 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. So far, they’ve cleared three and are nearing the mark in several others.
The campaign’s success has already triggered the next phase: a mandatory judicial and financial review of the initiative’s constitutionality and projected economic impact.
Governor DeSantis: Legalization Still “In Trouble”
DeSantis has remained a staunch opponent of putting cannabis legalization into the Florida Constitution. In February, he predicted the 2026 initiative would face “big time trouble” in the state Supreme Court. This, despite the governor accurately forecasting that the 2024 measure would survive legal challenges.
He’s also signed legislation to restrict citizen-led ballot initiatives, a move critics say is designed to make it harder for grassroots campaigns like Smart & Safe Florida to succeed.
Public Opinion Is Split—but Growing
Polls show strong bipartisan support for legalization, with 67 percent of Florida voters in favor according to a February 2025 survey. That includes 82 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of independents, and 55 percent of Republicans. However, a Florida Chamber of Commerce poll found only 53 percent support—well below the 60 percent threshold required to pass a constitutional amendment.
Looking Ahead
With mounting support and a refined initiative, Florida’s adult-use legalization push is accelerating. But at the same time, the state’s medical program is under renewed threat, and efforts to make voter-led reform more difficult are underway.
For Smart & Safe Florida and the voters who back them, the 2026 ballot may be the last best shot at broad cannabis reform for years. And for medical patients facing sudden registration revocations, the stakes are already very real.
Stay tuned to Honeysuckle for ongoing coverage of cannabis legislation and policy battles across the U.S.
