Recreational pot supporters in Florida fire back on new law

With a hearing next week in the Florida Supreme Court, backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow people to use recreational marijuana are disputing arguments by the state Senate that a new law should help block the ballot initiative.

Attorneys for the political committee Make It Legal Florida filed a 28-page brief Monday at the Supreme Court that said the Legislature could not erect new legal barriers to the proposed amendment, saying “this train left the station long before” the controversial law passed in March.

The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, takes a series of steps to try to make it harder to pass ballot initiatives, including calling on the Florida Supreme Court to consider whether proposed amendments are “facially invalid under the United States Constitution.” The Senate this month filed a brief saying the new law bolsters arguments the Supreme Court should block the ballot proposal because it conflicts with federal laws that make marijuana illegal.

The Supreme Court plays a gatekeeper role on ballot initiatives to make sure they meet legal standards before going to voters. Justices will hold a hearing on the recreational marijuana proposal May 6. [Read more at Naples Daily News]