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Florida marijuana laws: What to know about the state’s history of legalization attempts

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Florida marijuana laws: What to know about the state’s history of legalization attempts


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Floridians this year could become the 25th state where recreational marijuana is legal — if the Florida Supreme Court approves the Adult Personal Use of Marijuana ballot initiative.

Even though Gov. Ron DeSantis said there could be a “big problem” with weed stinking up public places, he also predicted the amendment would make it to the November ballot. Right now, the Florida Supreme Court has until April 1 to approve the ballot initiative, which would decriminalize marijuana for adults 21 and over under state law. Marijuana would still be outlawed federally if voters end up passing the referendum with a 60 percent majority. Marijuana laws have evolved in Florida over the past decade as pro-cannabis activists have quarreled with the status quo to make weed accessible to more Floridians, even without a medical card.

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More: Who can and can’t get a medical marijuana card in Florida? Here’s everything you need to know

Here’s how Florida’s marijuana laws have progressed over the past decade:

Limited medical marijuana legalized 2014

The 2014 Compassionate Use Act legalizes low-THC medical cannabis for patients with cancer and epilepsy.

Amendment 2 referendum fails 2014

The expansive medical marijuana that passed two years later failed the first time it was attempted in 2014. Needing a supermajority of 60 percent of voters to approve the amendment, the measure only received just over 57 percent, leaving activists to regroup.

Full strength medical marijuana legalized 2016

In 2016, the Right to Try Act allows full strength marijuana for patients with terminal conditions. Prior to the law, only low-THC strains of marijuana had been allowed for those patients.

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Medical marijuana expanded further 2016

In 2016, the Florida Medical marijuana Legalization Initiative referendum passed with 71.3% of the vote, expanding medical marijuana program. The legislature implemented the law in summer of 2017.

Previously, only those with terminal conditions were allowed access to medical marijuana. Under the new law, marijuana access was extended to those with conditions such as HIV, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Smoking weed legalized for medical users 2019

By 2019, the Florida legislature reversed previous bans on smokable forms of marijuana along with THC vaping under medical marijuana program.

Recreational marijuana petition fails 2021

Two years before the petition now being considered by the Florida Supreme Court received enough signatures to be placed on the ballot, a similar one was rejected by justices who said the language was misleading.

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Activists gathered more than 556,000 signatures out of the 891,589 needed for the measure to make the 2022 ballot before the court ruled the amendment’s language failed to clarify marijuana would still be illegal under federal rules.

Recreational marijuana petition 2023

Hoping to overcome the earlier setback, Smart and Safe Florida collected over a million petition signatures to put adult personal use of marijuana legalization on the 2024 ballot.

Although activists have included language in this latest petition to clarify that the state law will not override federal rules against marijuana, the state of Florida is still challenging the petition, hoping to keep it from reaching the ballot in the November 2024 election.

The state again has argued before the Supreme Court that the amendment fails to accurately inform voters that marijuana would still be illegal under federal law.

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More: DeSantis predicts Florida will vote on recreational marijuana in 2024, site says

When does the Florida Supreme Court have to decide?

Florida Supreme Court justices have until April 1 to approve the amendment language for November’s ballot. Even though Gov. Ron DeSantis has voiced concerns over the smell of marijuana smoke proliferating in public spaces should it become decriminalized, he also predicted the court will approve the measure.



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How Florida Can Attack Georgia DB Daylen Everette

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How Florida Can Attack Georgia DB Daylen Everette


The Florida Gators’ wideouts will line up against one of the most athletic corners in the SEC in Georgia’s Daylen Everette.

UF needs to immediately minimize his impact to win Saturday’s rivalry matchup. With interim coach Billy Gonzales looking to push the Gators towards bowl eligibility, the offense needs to start fast and succeed in the passing game consistently.

Target Him Early

Target him early. While he plays an effective corner, he is not a true lockdown corner to be feared and avoided. In fact, Florida needs to keep up the pressure. Granted, Everette is a tanky corner (6-1, 190 pounds) with good speed, but he possesses many flaws that the Gators need to take advantage of. Somewhere along the way, the Florida wideouts will beat him.

UF just needs to exercise patience.

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Double Moves and Rub Routes

Although Everette can run with most wideouts, his speed and explosion reside along a straight line. Under those circumstances, quick cuts and double moves appear to be a winning proposition. Everette fails to adjust in full stride, needing to gather steps to self-correct. A quicker wideout like Eugene Wilson III, who will see many snaps on Saturday in place of the injured Vernell Brown III, and provided he can beat the press, can leave Everette behind for big plays.

Moreover, Everette’s overt agility issue will cost him time attempting to either slide under or veer over pick plays. That lost step could cost the Bulldogs yards.

Missing Tackles

While a willing tackler, Everette’s approach and technique are still unrefined, even for a senior with 48 games of experience.

Without much of an ability to break down in space, his aggressiveness places him in positions that fleet-footed wideouts can stop and turn, while Everette flies by. The Georgia corner is a reacher, throwing his arms at the ball carrier, usually seeing the opponent maintain balance through contact. Florida should run Jadan Baugh in his direction. The senior defender must persevere through the challenge and execute the play.

Bottom Line

Everette is unquestionably the most talented defensive back in Georgia. With his explosion, experience, and drive, he should be a bit further along than he is now.

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Gonzales, the wide receivers coach, knows the talent in that position group, as he recruited the majority of them. The offensive line will give DJ Lagway time to throw due to Georgia’s lack of defensive line push. Now, if they can run routes at or around Everett, the rest of the secondary will fall.



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Florida unveils AI system to predict deadly drug threats before they hit

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Florida unveils AI system to predict deadly drug threats before they hit


SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida law-enforcement and public-health leaders on Wednesday unveiled a first-of-its-kind artificial-intelligence system designed to detect and warn communities about new drug threats before they become fatal.

The platform, called DrugAlert.ai was announced at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office alongside Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Project Overdose CEO Andrae Bailey. The system uses machine-learning to scan statewide drug data in real time, including toxicology screenings, EMS calls, arrest records and street-level intelligence, then issues alerts when dangerous substances emerge.

[WATCH BELOW: Fentanyl awareness taught in Osceola County with community event]

Lemma said the system could change how agencies fight the overdose crisis.

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“I’m convinced this will be the model that is used across the country,” Lemma said.

Project Overdose confirmed the system had already generated its first statewide DrugTRAC alert, after carfentanil, one of the most lethal synthetic opioids ever identified, was detected in multiple Florida counties, including Orange and Seminole.

Bailey said the AI platform closes a critical time gap that once left communities blind for months.

“Data we used to work with was six months to a year old,” Bailey said. “The data coming through this system will be no older than 24 hours.”

[WATCH BELOW: New X-ray tech coming to Fla. agricultural stations to help combat illegal immigration, drugs]

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Officials warned the technology is launching as Florida enters what researchers are calling the “fourth wave” of the overdose crisis, defined by mixtures of opioids, stimulants and synthetics that change too fast for human tracking.

Lemma said the tool allows police, hospitals and service providers to target resources faster and more precisely.

“Project Overdose has connected the dots like never before, public sector, private sector, the faith community, businesses, everybody is involved,” Lemma said.

Project Overdose confirmed Florida will use the alerts statewide and will issue targeted warnings ahead of large events, including next week’s EDC music festival, where officials anticipate increased drug activity.

Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

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Lee Named to Jerry West Award Watch List – Florida Gators

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Lee Named to Jerry West Award Watch List – Florida Gators


Florida men’s basketball senior Xaivian Lee has been named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason List, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday. The West Award is part of the Naismith Starting 5 positional awards.
 
A two-time first-team All-Ivy League performer at Princeton, Lee transferred to UF this offseason after averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season. A Toronto native, Lee has tallied 1,154 points, 406 rebounds, 302 assists and 124 3-point field goals in three career seasons entering 2025-26.
 
Lee joins backcourt mate Boogie Fland as a preseason Naismith Starting 5 honoree, with Fland named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list on Monday. The West Award has been presented since 2015, and the Gators’ Alijah Martin was on last season’s midseason watch list.
 
Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List
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Brayden Burries Arizona
Richie Saunders BYU
Josh Dix Creighton
Isaiah Evans Duke
Xaivian Lee Florida
Emmanuel Sharp Houston
Kylan Boswell Illinois
PJ Haggerty Kansas State
Otega Oweh Kentucky
Ryan Conwell Louisville
Seth Trimble North Carolina
Anthony Roy Oklahoma State
Jason Edwards Providence
Ian Jackson St. John’s
Solo Ball UConn
Rodney Rice USC
Mason Falslev Utah State
Malik Thomas Virginia
Wesley Yates III Washington
John Blackwell Wisconsin

 
2025-26 Florida Men’s Basketball Ticket Information
Traditional season tickets are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
 
Arena Pass
Arena Passes are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
 
Single Games
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Florida men’s basketball season are now on sale.
 
Fans can purchase tickets at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
 
All Gators Weekend Pack
The All Gators Weekend Pack is now available, which includes the Florida men’s basketball game against Merrimack on Friday, November 21, and the Florida football game against Tennessee on Saturday, November 22, for only $149 plus taxes/fees.
 
All fans attending the Merrimack men’s basketball game will receive a 2025 NCAA National Championship replica ring, presented by Meldon Law.
 



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