Medical Marijuana Vote Fails in Florida

Florida voters have sided with opponents of legalized medical marijuana by voting down a constitutional amendment that would have enabled doctors to prescribe the drug to their patients.

With 95 percent of the state’s precincts reporting in, controversial Amendment 2 failed by only capturing 57.48 percent of the vote. Constitutional amendments require at least 60 percent of voters in their favor to pass in the state of Florida.

This hotly debated amendment would have paved the way for legalization of marijuana for use in specific medical scenarios. The state Department of Health would have been responsible for regulating production and distribution centers and would also have been charged with issuing identification cards to patients approved for marijuana use.

Two other amendments were also on the ballot.

Amendment 1 requires that 33 percent of documentary stamp taxes (real estate document taxes) be earmarked for the fund, which was created in 1963. This amendment passed with 74.88 percent of Florida voters giving it a thumbs up.

This would provide the state fund an estimated $648 million during the Fiscal Year 2015-16, according to the League of Women Voters of Florida. The amendment expires in Fiscal Year 2034-35.

Amendment 3 relates to judicial appointments. This amendment would have given the governor greater abilities to fill judicial vacancies using a list of nominees approved for the post. It failed by only capturing 47.93 percent of the vote.

All results are preliminary until certified by the state division of elections.

Source: Florida Division of Elections website