There won’t be legal medical marijuana in Florida in 2014, according to an Associated Press projection.
Pro-legalization supporters wanted medical marijuana in the state’s constitution, but that meant Amendment 2 would need 60 percent of the vote. With 90 percent of precincts reporting on Tuesday evening, 57 percent of voters were in support of Amendment 2 — a majority, but not enough.
“While it’s disappointing that patients in Florida won’t be able to find legal relief with marijuana just yet, tonight’s result does show that a clear majority of voters in the sunshine state support a new direction,” Ton Angell, chairman of industry group Marijuana Majority, said in a release of the Florida medical marijuana amendment. “We didn’t get the 60 percent needed to pass medical marijuana as a constitutional amendment, but patients and their supporters will keep pushing until the law reflects what most voters want.
“The campaign this year faced several key challenges, including that it took place during a midterm election in which turnout dynamics don’t favor marijuana reform. Next time medical marijuana is on the ballot, organizers should put patients and medical professionals at the forefront of the campaign rather than relying on a well-meaning but much less sympathetic political donor as the chief spokesperson.”
