Florida
Florida marijuana laws: What to know about the state’s history of legalization attempts
DeSantis: Recreational marijuana will bring stench of weed smoke
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said recreational marijuana is likely on its way to legalization but added that the smell is a “big problem” in legal states.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Florida
GRAPHIC: Florida man recovering after shark attack at a Bahamas marina
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man who fell off a fishing boat last month at a marina in the Bahamas and was attacked by a shark is recovering.
Marlin Wakeman, 24, of Stuart, said during a Thursday news conference at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach that he’d be returning to the Bahamas and the water as soon as possible.
“I may have some nightmares here or there, but I’ll be all right,” Wakeman said.
WARNING: The video contains images that some may find disturbing.
Wakeman was at the Flying Fish Marina in Long Island on April 26 when he tried to jump to the docked boat he was working on. He said at least 20 sharks swim around the marina at any given time because they’re attracted to the discarded fish carcasses. Wakeman slipped and fell into the shark-infested water, and he was bit on the leg seconds later by what he believes was a Caribbean reef shark. Another shark hit him on the shoulder before he could get out of the water.
Wakeman said the boat’s captain tied a tourniquet on his leg before he was taken to a clinic. He was later flown to Florida for surgery at St. Mary’s.
Dr. Robert Borrego said the shark punctured Wakeman’s kneecap and just missed an artery. The trauma surgeon estimated the shark to be about 7 feet (2 meters) long, based on the size of the bite mark.
Borrego said he expects Wakeman to make a full recovery.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Florida
Family of airman fatally shot by Florida deputy demands answers
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Florida
No. 16 Florida State softball set for ACC Tournament: Preview, how to watch, game thread,
Florida State softball will begin post-season play, starting with the second round of the ACC tournament. After dropping the season finale to Syracuse the weekend prior, the Seminoles are looking for new life.
With a bye in the tournament, hosted by Duke, they will face Notre Dame. Notre Dame is coming off of a win versus North Carolina to secure their spot against the ‘Noles.
So far this season, it is the Princeton transfer, Alexis Laudsenslager, taking on most of the work. In 126.1 innings, she has created a 4.10 ERA with 137 H, 90 R, 58 BB and 131 SO with a .268 B/AVG. Shannon Becker and Micaela Kastor round out the pitching staff with a 4.12 and 5.11 ERA, respectively.
On the offense, Carli Kloss leads the way for the Fighting Irish. With a .375 batting average, Kloss has 45 R, 63 H, 24 RBI and 9 BB, after starting all games this season. The team leader in RBI is Addison Amaral, who has knocked in 53 runs, bringing her to a .338 BA, which is second on the team.
Other Key Players
Karina Gaskins: .316 BA / 27 R / 37 H / 8 HR / 34 RBI / 55 BB
Last Matchup
FSU swept the Irish in Tallahassee earlier this season, with a 23-7 run differential.
Ashtyn Danley led the pitching staff with 10 IP, 10 H, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K.
Kalei Harding, Jaysoni Beachum, Jahni Kerr, Madi Frey and Kennedy Harp all had multiple RBI games during the weekend.
How to watch
The game is scheduled for 5 pm on ACCN, but with the first game of the day going into extras, expect a time delay.
This thread will be updated through the Seminoles run in the ACC Tournament
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