71,000 signatures snubbed?: Florida marijuana ballot initiative faces legal hurdle

OG article by Grace Bellinghausen

January 14, 2026

Florida's Secretary of State seeks dismissal of a lawsuit after rejecting 71,000 signatures for Smart & Safe Florida's recreational marijuana ballot initiative. This includes 42,000 from inactive voters and 29,000 by out-of-state petitioners. The group sued December 29 to meet the February 1 deadline for 880,062 valid signatures, claiming over 1 million supporters but with 675,307 verified. Officials argue inactive voters' signatures risk fraud due to unconfirmed addresses. Smart & Safe Florida calls the exclusion unreasonable for registered voters. Out-of-state collectors face issues: a prior federal injunction allowed them, but a September 11th Circuit stay led to invalidations; the group alleges improper rejections during the injunction period. A 2024 amendment failed despite 60% approval amid opposition from Gov. Ron DeSantis. Recent 2025 laws further complicate efforts. The dispute could block placement on the ballot.