So, you're looking for the Florida Amendment 3 vote date and what actually went down. Honestly, it was a wild night. The date was November 5, 2024. If you were in Florida, you probably couldn't turn on a TV or open your mail without seeing an ad about it.
The vote didn't just happen in a vacuum. It was the culmination of years of legal fighting, millions of dollars in spending, and a whole lot of "will they, won't they" from the public. People were genuinely curious if Florida would become the next big state to go fully green.
What happened on the Florida Amendment 3 vote date?
On November 5, 2024, nearly 11 million Floridians cast their ballots. When the dust settled, 5,950,589 people voted "Yes." That is roughly 55.9% of the total vote. In almost any other state, that would be a landslide victory.
But Florida isn't most states.
Because of a rule passed back in 2006, constitutional amendments in Florida need a 60% supermajority to pass. It’s a high bar. Basically, if you don't get 6 out of 10 people to agree, the "No" side wins, even if they have fewer total votes.
The numbers that mattered
- Yes: 5,950,589 (55.9%)
- No: 4,693,524 (44.1%)
- Result: Defeated
It’s kinda crazy when you think about it. Over a million more people wanted it than didn't, yet it failed. This wasn't just a close call; it was a massive display of support that crashed into a legal brick wall.
Why the 60% rule exists
You might be wondering why the bar is so high. Experts like Aubrey Jewett from the University of Central Florida point to something called the "pregnant pig" amendment from 2002. Back then, voters passed a law about how farmers could keep pigs.
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Legislators felt the constitution was getting cluttered with things that should just be regular laws. So, in 2006, they put a measure on the ballot to raise the threshold to 60%. Ironically, that change only passed with 58% of the vote. If the 60% rule had existed then, we wouldn't have the 60% rule now.
Funny how that works.
The money behind the Florida Amendment 3 vote
This was the most expensive marijuana-related ballot initiative in U.S. history. Period. Smart & Safe Florida, the main group pushing for a "Yes" vote, raised over $150 million.
Most of that—about 94%—came from Trulieve, the state's biggest medical marijuana operator. They were banking on the market opening up to everyone over 21.
On the other side, Governor Ron DeSantis led a fierce opposition. His "Vote No on 3" campaign argued that legalization would make the state "smell like marijuana" and that the amendment was written to benefit big corporations. They spent about $33 million, which is way less than the "Yes" side, but they had the "bully pulpit" of the governor's office.
Where did people vote Yes?
Support wasn't the same everywhere. If you look at the county-level data from the Florida Amendment 3 vote date, you see a big divide between the cities and the rural areas.
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In Alachua County, home to Gainesville, 66.4% of people voted yes. Leon County (Tallahassee) was at 60.3%. Broward and Duval also cleared the 60% mark.
But in places like Hardee County, support was as low as 39.8%. Lafayette County was even lower at 37.2%. The rural heartland of Florida stayed pretty firm on the "No" side, and that was enough to keep the statewide total below that magic 60% number.
Demographics played a huge role
Polls from the University of North Florida and Emerson College before the vote showed a massive generational gap. Younger voters (18-49) were overwhelmingly in favor, often hitting near 70% support. Seniors? Not so much. Only about 47% of voters over 65 were on board.
In a state like Florida, where the "silver vote" carries a ton of weight, that gap was the nail in the coffin.
What was actually in the amendment?
If it had passed, Amendment 3 would have allowed adults 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana. About five grams could be in the form of concentrate.
It didn't allow for "home grow," which actually turned off some pro-marijuana voters. They felt if you can't grow your own plant in your backyard, it's just a corporate monopoly. DeSantis leaned into this heavily during his press circuit leading up to the Florida Amendment 3 vote date.
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The legal landscape today
So, where does that leave us? Basically, right where we were before the vote.
- Medical is still legal: If you have a qualifying condition and a Florida medical marijuana card, you're fine. There are over 800,000 patients in the state right now.
- Recreational is still a crime: Possession of even small amounts can still land you in jail or with a hefty fine, depending on the county.
- Hemp is the "loophole": You've probably seen Delta-8 or THCA products in gas stations. These are technically legal under the 2018 Federal Farm Bill, but the Florida legislature has been trying to crack down on them since the amendment failed.
The Florida Legislature didn't even hold a hearing on marijuana reform in the 2025 session. It seems they took the "No" result as a sign to keep things as they are.
What’s next for Florida?
Don't expect another vote tomorrow. Collecting the nearly 900,000 signatures required to get an amendment on the ballot is incredibly expensive and time-consuming.
Plus, there are new laws being fought in court right now. One law passed in 2025 tried to ban out-of-state people from collecting signatures. That's currently caught up in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
If you want to see change, the next steps are mostly local. Some cities like Tampa or Orlando have "decriminalized" small amounts, meaning you might just get a ticket instead of handcuffs. But it's a patchwork of rules that can be confusing if you're traveling across county lines.
Actionable steps for Floridians
- Check your registration: If you want to vote on future measures, make sure your status is active on the Florida Division of Elections website.
- Follow the court cases: Watch for rulings on the "Pot Petitions Lawsuit" involving the 11th Circuit. It will dictate how hard it is to get future amendments on the ballot.
- Look into medical: If you have a legitimate medical need, the medical program is robust and growing. Talk to a licensed physician to see if you qualify.
- Stay informed on 2026: While a recreational amendment isn't on the immediate horizon, local legislative races in 2026 will determine if the state house ever considers "decrim" bills.
The Florida Amendment 3 vote date of November 5, 2024, showed that a majority of Floridians are ready for a change, but "majority" and "constitutional majority" are two very different things in the Sunshine State.
Official Election Result Summary
The Florida Department of State certified the results showing that while Amendment 3 received 5,950,589 "Yes" votes, it fell short of the 6,386,468 votes (60%) needed to pass. The final percentage was 55.9% in favor.