More than two-thirds of registered voters in Florida would back the legalization of adult-use cannabis in the state, according to a new poll from the University of North Florida (UNF).
Researchers from the university’s Public Opinion Research Lab asked 716 residents, which were representative of the state’s demographics and geographic location.
It found that 67% of respondents said they would vote yes on a proposed constitutional amendment permitting people 21 and older to buy cannabis without a medical licence, with 28% stating they would vote against such a bill
This is the third survey of its kind, seeing the university poll Floridians in the spring of 2022 and 2023 over whether they would support recreational cannabis, seeing support of 76% and 70% respectively.
According to the research lab’s faculty director Professor Michael Binder, this decline in sentiment is likely more to do with how the question was posed rather than waning support.
“Unlike previous surveys when we simply asked if folks support or oppose legalization of recreational marijuana, this time we gave respondents the specifics of the proposed amendment,” he said in a statement.
“Yet again, it looks like (the amendment) has a good chance of passing, if it makes it through the courts, and that is a very big ‘if.’”
It comes as a bill to see adult-use legalisation put to a vote next year is being debated in the states courts.
As Business of Cannabis reported last month, the Adult Personal Use of Marijuana amendment was put forward by Smart & Safe Florida earlier this year, and successfully collected enough valid signatures to qualify for a 2024 general election ballot placement.
However, the proposals have already received significant pushback from the state’s Governor Ron DeSantis, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who sought to stop the bill in its tracks at a hearing earlier this month.
