Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier urged the state Supreme Court to block a new recreational marijuana legalization initiative from reaching the ballot, calling it “fatally flawed,” misleading to voters, and unconstitutional. In a 75-page brief, Uthmeier argued the proposal—backed by Smart & Safe Florida and largely funded by medical cannabis operator Trulieve—violates Florida’s single-subject rule, misrepresents restrictions on public use, and conflicts with federal law under the Controlled Substances Act.
Uthmeier’s position is supported by a coalition of business and anti-drug groups, which contend the initiative would improperly legalize and commercialize cannabis while obligating the state to license federally illegal activity. Opponents say the ballot summary falsely implies a broad ban on public consumption, lacks enforcement mechanisms, and bundles unrelated policy changes—such as advertising limits and business licensing—into a single constitutional amendment.
The legal challenge comes as Smart & Safe Florida races to meet a February 1 deadline to submit nearly 880,000 valid signatures, amid disputes over tens of thousands of signatures invalidated by state officials. The measure follows a similar 2024 proposal that won a majority but failed to clear Florida’s 60% approval threshold. While polling continues to show strong public support for legalization, the Supreme Court’s ruling will determine whether voters get another chance to decide the issue in 2026.
