A Florida campaign to legalize marijuana faces significant setbacks due to a new state law that resets signature counts for each election cycle, effectively erasing nearly 800,000 previously collected signatures. While the group Smart & Safe Florida continues to challenge signature invalidations in the state Supreme Court, they face ongoing opposition from Governor Ron DeSantis and other state officials despite strong bipartisan voter support.

Florida Officials Reset Cannabis Campaign Signatures to Zero Amid Ongoing Legal Battles

Feb 23, 2026

Source:

Kyle Jaeger

Marijuana Moment

Florida's journey toward recreational legalization just hit a major bureaucratic speed bump. Thanks to a new state law signed by Governor DeSantis, the signature count for ballot initiatives now resets with every election cycle. This means the Smart & Safe Florida campaign effectively saw nearly 800,000 hard-earned signatures vanish from the 2028 tally. While the group is still fighting in the Supreme Court to validate enough signatures for the 2026 ballot, they are facing intense opposition from state officials and the Chamber of Commerce.

For the Florida cannabis community, this is a clear example of "moving the goalposts" through legislative red tape. Despite polls showing that a massive 67% of Floridians support adult-use reform, these new rules make it significantly harder for grassroots movements to bypass political gridlock. It matters to everyday tokers because it delays access to safe, regulated products and keeps the threat of unnecessary legal trouble alive. It's a reminder that even with broad public support, the path to a legal market requires staying vocal and persistent against high-level political resistance.