A group called Smart and Safe Florida is working to get recreational marijuana back on the ballot in the 2026 general election. It is mailing out petitions asking Floridians to support the legalization of marijuana for adults.
In the 2024 election, 55.9% of voters supported legalization, but it fell short of the 60% needed to pass. Now, the group is gathering signatures to try again in 2026.
Some locals, like Lissandra Carrillo of Fort Myers, believe public perceptions about THC have changed, saying it’s no longer seen as dangerous as it was in the past. However, others, like Valerie and Jack Piganelli, expressed concerns. While they support medical marijuana for certain conditions, they’re not in favor of legalization for recreational use.
Smart and Safe Florida has not commented on how it is ensuring the validity of signatures or whether it anticipates any pushback from the state. The outcome of this new push for legalization remains to be seen.