Florida, a.k.a. the sunshine state is known for many things right from NASA to the party life along the blue waters of the ocean. A perfect day in Florida begins with a dip in the calm waters off the coast. It ends with a delicious seafood dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants that have made this place a hub of exquisite culinary delights. It is no wonder that it is known as the party capital of the US. However, this fantastic place misses out on being the holiday destination of a lot of people because of one major problem- the criminalization of marijuana in the state. Yes, what you heard is true! Florida has not decriminalized marijuana entirely yet. So, what is the reason behind the criminalization of marijuana in the state? Let us take a look at the timeline of marijuana legalization in the state of Florida.
The year 2016: Beginning of Marijuana Legalisation
This story begins in the year 2016. Before 2016, marijuana, in any form, was completely illegal in Florida. It was during this time that a wave of decriminalization was sweeping through the US, with many states legalizing marijuana either partially or entirely. The governments of Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, and others had either partially or entirely legalized marijuana by holding referendums for the legalization of marijuana. Inspired by the success of the people’s efforts in getting marijuana legalized in their states, the people of Florida also renewed their efforts to get it decriminalized in their state. Bowing down to the pressure from the people, in 2016, the government of Florida decided to hold a referendum in the state for decriminalizing medical marijuana after repeated requests and appeals by various organizations and individuals citing the health benefits of using cannabis in limited quantity. The referendum got an overwhelming response, with more than 70% of the people voting in favor of legalization, and thus, the government legalized medical marijuana on 8th Nov 2016. It led to medical marijuana becoming available to all qualified people in the form of oils, sprays, tinctures, and vape cannabis. However, the sale of smokable medical marijuana remained prohibited in the state.
Present Law Situation of Cannabis in Florida
As of today, medical marijuana remains legal in Florida, and qualified patients can purchase no more than twenty grams of marijuana from state-approved centers. However, an eligible patient needs to obtain a physical certificate from a licensed doctor if they want to purchase cannabis. Once a qualified patient receives the necessary documents from a licensed doctor, they can apply for a card that will allow them to acquire not more than 2.5 ounces of marijuana once every 35 days. However, the purchase of smokable cannabis was illegal in the state as the government thought that the use of smokable medical marijuana would increase the clamor for the legalization of recreational(regular) marijuana.
However, after receiving criticism from all quarters for this move, the government reversed its stand and made smokable marijuana legal effective from 2019.
What the Future entails for Marijuana
The legalization and the subsequent use of medical marijuana have so far had a positive impact on the state, with the doctors and medical practitioners agreeing that the use of marijuana for medical purposes has improved the health and overall well-being of patients significantly. These positive results have further strengthened the demands for legalizing recreational marijuana in the state. The government is also showing a willingness to legalize recreational marijuana as it will give a boost to tourism in the various counties of Florida as well as create a revenue stream for the government.
It is only a while before marijuana gets entirely legalized in Florida. When that happens, it will truly become the party capital of the US.
Read about Amendement 3 and Florida’s push to legalize recreational cannabis here.
