Florida vote to decide on legal marijuana and protection of abortion rights

Floridians are casting their votes to decide on two key ballot measures that could have far-reaching effects: one that would protect abortion rights and another that aims to legalize recreational marijuana.

The issues represent potential landmark victories for Democrats in a state that has increasingly leaned toward Republicans in recent elections.

The abortion rights measure aims to enshrine protections for abortion access in the Florida state constitution.

If approved, it would prevent state legislatures from passing laws that penalize, prohibit, delay or restrict access to abortions until the fetus is viable – which medical experts say is typically 21 weeks of pregnancy.

When was Roe v. Wade overturned?

If voters reject the proposal, Florida’s existing restrictive six-week abortion ban would remain in effect.

That would make Florida one of the first states to reject abortion rights following the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

The marijuana legalization push is also drawing widespread attention in the state, which has a large agricultural sector and a thriving medical marijuana market.

The proposed change would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess up to three ounces of marijuana.

Florida Marijuana Laws

It would also allow companies that already grow and sell medical marijuana to expand their operations into recreational sales.

The measure comes at a time when federal officials are discussing the possibility of reclassifying marijuana as a less harmful drug, which could further change the legal landscape across the country.

Both issues require a supermajority of more than 60 percent of voters to approve.

In previous elections, abortion rights have emerged as a key motivator for voter turnout, particularly in 2022, when abortion access was a key issue in helping Democrats retain several Senate seats.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and other GOP leaders have mounted a vigorous campaign against both measures.

They argue that legalizing recreational marijuana could have negative consequences, such as harming the state’s tourism industry by creating a pervasive smell of marijuana in popular areas.

Will Republicans stick with Florida?

However, some prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who lives in Florida, and the state’s former Republican leader, Sen. Joe Gruters, have expressed support for marijuana legalization.

In the case of the abortion measure, Trump initially wavered about how he would vote, but ultimately declared that he would reject the initiative, echoing his party’s stance against expanding abortion rights in the state.

Democratic campaigns, meanwhile, have pushed hard on both issues, hoping to rally their base and increase voter turnout in a state where Republicans have a significant advantage in voter registration — nearly a million more registered Republicans than Democrats.

The outcome of these ballot measures could signal broader changes in Florida’s political landscape, particularly around issues that have played a central role in national debates over reproductive rights and drug policy.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press