Florida Push for Legalized Cannabis Hits Familiar Foe
- barneyelias0
- Oct 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 22
OG article by Gary Fineout
Lawsuit Filed
Smart & Safe Florida challenges officials.
Targets Secretary Cord Byrd.
Up to 200,000 signatures at risk.
One-quarter needed.
Division of Elections directive.
Throw out validated petitions.
Mail outreach lacked full amendment copy.
Suit calls actions unlawful.
Seeks judge intervention.
Campaign: Unprecedented.
Rule change after fact.
Enforce law.
Let voters decide.
Grand Jury Probe
Florida grand jury investigates.
DeSantis steps against 2024 measure.
Allies involved.
Rep. Alex Andrade subpoenaed.
Testified.
No details shared.
Unusual Delay
Amendment not sent to Supreme Court.
Breaks tradition.
Law sets deadlines.
Byrd, AG must act.
No review by April 1?
Ballot spot in doubt.
Florida has medical cannabis decade-old.
Recreational fell short in 2024.
56% yes.
Needed 60%.
Trump backed.
DeSantis opposed.
State funneled $10 million.
From Medicaid settlement.
To foundation tied to first lady.
Donated millions against.
New Push Starts
Post-2024 defeat.
Smart & Safe revamps.
Addresses criticisms.
Public smoking.
Child marketing.
DeSantis still opposes.
Mailed petitions.
Return envelope.
Website link on back.
Byrd letter in March.
Forms invalid.
Group adjusted.
Included full text.
Provided names.
Oct. 3 email from Maria Matthews.
Invalidate 200,000.
Suit: No law requires full text pre-signature.
Filed against Byrd, Leon supervisor.
Roadblocks Mount
Law: Submit to AG immediately.
At 25% signatures.
For court review.
Ballot summary check.
Single subject.
Now at 663,000.
Over 75%.
AG James Uthmeier: No notice.
Past DeSantis chief.
Led prior opposition.
Byrd: Pending litigation.
No comment.
Campaign silent on delay.
Last round: Court review Nov. 2023.
Approved April 1.
5-2 vote.
DeSantis criticized.
Appointed majority.
Comments