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Florida Amendment 3 May Fail, These Weed-Like Products Are Legal
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Florida Amendment 3 May Fail, These Weed-Like Products Are Legal

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If enough Floridians vote “yes” on amendment 3 On Election Day, this Tuesday, November 5, Florida will become the 25th state where recreational marijuana is legal for adult use.

A parade of critics and lawmakers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have made their opposition to the bill very clear for a variety of reasons. One of the most common arguments, repeated in many “vote no on 3” ads and echoed by those who oppose it, is that the state of Florida will “smell like weed” and there will be that would be little control on where smokers decide to fire up.

But Florida is not currently free of weed and the odor of weed smoke, even though recreational marijuana is not legally permitted in the state. Medical marijuana and THC products containing lower THC percentages than traditional marijuana are readily available at dispensaries and smoke shops across the state.

Here’s where Florida residents will and won’t be allowed to smoke if the amendment passes and what the failure of Amendment 3 would mean for the legality of marijuana in Florida.

What will happen if Amendment 3 does not pass in Florida?

If Amendment 3 fails on Tuesday, Florida’s marijuana laws will remain as is.

Currently, the only marijuana you are legally allowed to possess and smoke in the state of Florida must be purchased with a medical marijuana card from a dispensary or with the low-THC products available at tobacco stores , such as delta 8 and delta 9 products.

What will happen if Amendment 3 passes in Florida?

If voters pass the amendment this week, Florida will become the country 25th state to legalize recreational marijuana use. Marijuana users would still be required to purchase their weed from licensed dispensaries.

If Amendment 3 is happening in Florida, here are some of the things to expect. This would allow:

  • Prevent lawmakers from limiting the percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana.
  • Legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older for personal use.
  • Legalize the possession, use, processing, and transportation of marijuana, marijuana products, and marijuana paraphernalia.
  • Preserve the current medical marijuana law by repealing it Note 1 A. of Florida Statute 381.986 2020which would otherwise cause it to expire six months after “the adoption of a constitutional amendment related to cannabis or marijuana.”

Is it allowed to smoke weed in public in Florida?

You currently can’t smoke weed in public in Florida, even if you have a medical marijuana card and are legally allowed to possess and smoke weed.

Are Delta 9 products legal in Florida? Are Delta 8 products legal in Florida?

Yes, delta 9 THC and delta 8 THC products, which some call “diet weed,” are legal in Florida.

Although you are not legally allowed to purchase and smoke real pot in Florida without a medical license, you can purchase low level delta 8 and delta 9 THC products at your local smoke shop without a medical license, provided you have 21 years old. or more.

Is delta 8 the same as regular weed?

Delta-8 products have milder psychoactive effects than the cannabinoid that gives “real” weed its effect. Marijuana and hemp are two types of cannabis sativa plants. The type of weed you buy at medical dispensaries comes from marijuana plants, while CBD and delta-8 THC come from hemp plants.

“Delta-8 THC is one of more than 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant, but it is not found in significant quantities in the cannabis plant,” the report states. The FDA website says. “As a result, concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically made from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). »

What is the difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9 products?

Delta 8 and Delta 9 products are very similar in that when smoked or otherwise consumed, they give a milder, less long-lasting version of the psychoactive effects of marijuana.

The two main differences between delta 8 and delta 9 THC products are potency and regulation. Many manufacturers of Delta 8 products do not follow specific regulations, such as ensuring that the product does not contain anything that is not stated on the label. Delta 9 products are more closely regulated in states where legalization has led to specific rules on the composition and sale of THC products. Delta 9 products are also slightly more powerful than Delta 8.

Basically, even delta 8 plant products are extracted and synthesized from CBD; while delta 9 can be consumed in its plant form without being extracted.

“Delta-9 THC can be smoked or vaporized in flower (bud) form without requiring extraction, although edibles, topicals and other preparations require an extraction process,” according to Forbes Health.

“On the other hand, almost all delta-8 THC products are synthesized, extracted and purified from CBD derived from cannabis.”

When will weed be legal in Florida if Amendment 3 passes? Florida Marijuana Legalization Could Mimic Alcohol Laws

Although many assume that passing Amendment 3 would mean being able to smoke wherever and whenever one wants, that is not true. The reality will look a lot like Florida’s current laws regarding alcohol possession and consumption.

According to Smart & Safe Florida, the Legislature retains the authority to pass regulations ensuring clean, family-friendly public spaces, just as it does for tobacco and alcohol.

And even if Floridians vote “yes” at the polls on Tuesday, marijuana won’t instantly become legal in Florida. The 2025 regular legislative session doesn’t begin until March, and the process of holding a successful referendum and turning an amendment into law can take several months.

Even if the referendum is successful, the state legislature must decide exactly how the law will be implemented and review and set regulations on things like how much marijuana you can buy at one time, rules for to marketing and places where smoking is and is not allowed.

“Smart & Safe Florida is committed to ensuring safe access to cannabis products while empowering the Legislature to enact comprehensive regulations, from cultivation to consumption, including where people can or not smoking in public,” said Smart & Safe Florida spokesperson Morgan Hill. said earlier this year.

“Such protections are customary when implementing any policy in our state, regardless of industry.”