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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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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for July 10, 2026

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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for July 10, 2026


The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 10 drawing

02-39-44-46-56, Mega Ball: 23

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Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from July 10 drawing

11-15-32-40-45-46

Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 11-20-21-24-25

Evening: 06-11-15-20-33

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Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 10 drawing

Morning: 15

Matinee: 13

Afternoon: 09

Evening: 04

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Late Night: 08

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

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Winning Pick 2 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 6-0, FB: 5

Evening: 0-4, FB: 8

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 7-5-3, FB: 5

Evening: 5-8-1, FB: 8

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 2-2-4-2, FB: 5

Evening: 0-4-4-1, FB: 8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 4-4-6-0-0, FB: 5

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Evening: 9-2-9-8-1, FB: 8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
  • Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
  • Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

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  • Full name
  • City of residence
  • Game won
  • Date won
  • Amount won
  • Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
  • Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.



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Snake hunters gather in Florida to kill invasive pythons for $25,000 in prizes

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Snake hunters gather in Florida to kill invasive pythons for ,000 in prizes


The day has finally arrived. On July 10, hundreds of professional and amateur snake hunters entered the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day race to remove as many of the invasive animals as possible from the Everglades. The person who bags the most snakes will earn a $10,000 first-place prize, while another $15,000 in payouts will go to various other categories, including for the longest snake captured.

Conservationists estimate between 100,000 and 300,000 Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) live across the state’s subtropical regions, where they have thrived as apex predators since their accidental introduction into the wild during the 1970s. Pregnant females can lay upwards of 70 eggs at a time, and each hatchling can reach an adult length of 13-feet long. Despite their population explosion, only around five percent of all pythons are spotted by the average onlooker. That means only one in about 20 snakes are noticed on any given day.

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The python hunt ends on July 19. Credit: Joe Raedel via Getty Images

Over 600 people registered to participate in this year’s Florida Python Challenge as of July 7, according to Naples Daily News. Last year saw more than 900 local and international competitors, and the largest snake captured measured nearly 16 feet long. The annual event isn’t a free-for-all, however. Every hunter must complete a safety course prior to scouring for snakes, and while guns are allowed on private land with owner’s permission, all pythons must be euthanized as humanely as possible.

It may come as a surprise, but beheading one of the massive, coiling predators absolutely isn’t an ethical means of disposal. Because the snakes possess extremely slow metabolisms and can survive with very low amounts of oxygen, they can remain conscious (and in immense pain) for a prolonged period of time after decapitation. Instead, hunters are recommended to draw an imaginary line from each eye to the opposite jaw bone, then locate where those paths intersect. Then can then use a sharp rod or screwdriver to impale the top of the head before moving the tool in a multilateral direction to ensure an immediate loss of consciousness and a quick death. No one said python hunting was for the squeamish.

The Florida Python Challenge will end at 5 p.m. EDT on July 19, with champions announced soon afterwards.

 

products on a page that says best of what's new 2025

2025 PopSci Best of What’s New

 

Andrew Paul is a staff writer for Popular Science.


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Florida man accused of driving drunk, causing head-on crash and seriously injuring 2

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Florida man accused of driving drunk, causing head-on crash and seriously injuring 2


A driver accused of driving under the influence caused a head-on crash that sent two people to the hospital before crashing into a fence, abandoning his vehicle and fleeing the scene, authorities said.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, at about 11:42 p.m. Tuesday, Kelly Castleman was driving on Turner Road in Tampa when he crashed into a sedan, causing it to strike an SUV and resulting in a head-on collision. The drivers of the sedan and the SUV were taken to the hospital with serious and critical injuries.

See also: Armed Florida man arrested after setting restaurant on fire with propane tank, police say

Deputies say Castleman’s vehicle continued north before crashing through a fence. According to the sheriff’s office, he stopped in the backyard of a nearby residence and then fled the scene on foot.

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Castleman was found about a mile from his apartment and taken into custody. Investigators say he provided breath samples of 0.287 and 0.283.

Castleman is charged with DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI with a breath-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher and property damage, leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, and leaving the scene of a crash involving unattended property.



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