Florida missed full adult-use legalization in 2024 when Amendment 3 drew ~56%—short of the 60% supermajority the state requires. But legalization isn’t dead: the Smart & Safe Florida coalition is already back for 2026, and the Legislature saw a 2025 adult-use bill introduction. For South Florida voters, the 2026 midterm cycle will help determine whether the Sunshine State finally shifts from medical-only to a regulated adult-use market—and how Florida’s U.S. House members lean on federal rescheduling/descheduling. Here’s your quick, sourced guide to the candidates and dynamics most likely to help the industry.
Where Florida stands right now
- 2024 outcome: Adult-use fell short (about 56% “yes”), so Florida remains medical-only. READ MORE: CBS News
- 2026 adult-use push: Smart & Safe Florida has already cleared the threshold for Florida Supreme Court language review and has 600k+ valid signatures toward the 880,062 needed—despite new petition rules that make qualification harder. READ MORE: Florida Phoenix
- Public support: A February 2025 UNF poll found 67% of voters back legalization, including majority support among Republicans, suggesting 2026 is viable if the campaign can adapt to the higher bar and new rules. READ MORE: Marijuana Moment
- Legislature: A 2025 adult-use bill (HB 1501) was filed with a January 1, 2026 effective date (if enacted), signaling growing legislative interest even if 2024 stalled. READ MORE: Florida House of Representatives
Why South Florida’s House seats matter
Even if Florida passes adult-use in 2026, federal policy (rescheduling/descheduling, banking, tax reform) remains crucial for capital access, 280E tax relief, research, and interstate movement. That means your U.S. House choices in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach can materially affect the business environment.
The bipartisan surprise: Florida cosponsors a 2025 rescheduling bill
In August 2025, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced the Marijuana 1-to-3 Act of 2025 (H.R. 4963)—a narrowly tailored bill to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Notably, a long list of Florida members signed on, including several South Florida lawmakers across both parties:
- Lois Frankel (D-FL) — Palm Beach
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) — Broward
- Frederica Wilson (D-FL) — Miami-Dade
- Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) — Broward/Palm Beach
- Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) — Miami
- Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) — Miami-Dade/Monroe
Each is listed among bill supporters on Congress.gov’s cosponsor roster. That bipartisan mix suggests South Florida’s delegation could be net-positive for at least rescheduling—a major (if partial) win for operators and patients. READ MORE: Congress.gov
Why Schedule III matters: It would lift the IRS §280E penalty from state-legal operators, opening margins for expansion and patient pricing relief, and it would streamline research—even if it stops short of full federal descheduling. (The bill doesn’t set up interstate commerce by itself, but it’s a meaningful step.)
Who’s historically friendly to federal reform?
- Democrats (Frankel, Moskowitz, Wilson, Wasserman Schultz). House Democrats twice passed the MORE Act (federal descheduling, expungements) in 2020/2022; South Florida Democrats generally voted yes or align with those positions today. (Frankel publicly supported federal legalization votes; she was cautious on Florida’s 2024 state amendment but remains pro-reform in Congress.)
- Republicans (Salazar, Gimenez). GOP votes for broad descheduling remain rare, but both Salazar and Gimenez are now on H.R. 4963—a sign they’re open to rescheduling. Gimenez, notably, supported Miami-Dade’s 2015 move to civil citations for small-possession when he was mayor.
Takeaway: Across party lines, South Florida incumbents are signaling yes on a practical step (Schedule III). If you’re voting with the industry in mind, their continued support—or a challenger pledging to match or exceed it—matters.
State-level stakes: Tallahassee still decides the rules
Even with a successful 2026 amendment, the Legislature will control licensing caps, local opt-outs, taxes, packaging rules, and on-ramps for existing MMTCs. In 2025, the Marijuana Policy Project noted the Legislature didn’t even hold hearings on adult-use, but the 2026 campaign has momentum and is in court review. Expect state House/Senate candidates to be pressed on:
- Implementing adult-use if voters pass it
- Small-business access vs. MMTC-only expansion
- Expungements and social equity
- Local control and zoning
Track candidate statements and bill filings; the MPP Florida page is a good running resource on what leaders actually do (or don’t) in session.
The 2026 ballot: harder rules, higher stakes
After 2024’s near-misses (marijuana, abortion), Florida’s GOP majority tightened the initiative process in 2025: new caps and ID requirements for petition gathering could make qualification and signature validation more difficult (court fights are expected). Practically, that means funding and professional operations will matter even more for Smart & Safe Florida’s 2026 run.
Still, the campaign has already hit major milestones—triggering Supreme Court review and crossing 600k+ signatures by mid-2025—and polls show legalization over 60% in multiple soundings. The key will be turnout and persuasion in suburban/older cohorts where 2024 under-performed.
Outlook for the industry (and what to watch)
- Federal rescheduling by statute (H.R. 4963). If Congress moves cannabis to Schedule III, operators get 280E relief and clearer research pathways. With South Florida members already on board, watch whether House leadership allows a vote—and whether Senate companions emerge.
- Florida 2026 adult-use ballot. Signature thresholds, language approval, fundraising, and turnout models will decide it. If it passes, expect a fast, MMTC-led rollout unless lawmakers add broader licensing.
- Legislature in 2026 session. If a constitutional amendment passes, Tallahassee will hash out rules, timelines, potency limits, and tax. Candidates who openly back swift, inclusive implementation (not slow-walks) are the most pro-industry.
- Banking and SAFE-style reform. Even without descheduling, a banking fix would reduce cash risk and borrowing costs. Check candidates’ stances on SAFE Banking-type bills and expungement packages (often bipartisan).
Practical voter guide for South Florida
- If your priority is near-term industry relief: Back House candidates who cosponsor or pledge to vote for Schedule III (H.R. 4963) and banking reform. Today, that already includes Frankel, Wasserman Schultz, Wilson, Moskowitz, Salazar, and Gimenez. Keep an eye on challengers—push them to match those commitments.
- If your priority is full adult-use in Florida: Support the 2026 Smart & Safe Florida amendment effort, and pick state House/Senate candidates who pledge to implement adult-use rapidly and fairly if voters approve it.
- If your priority is social equity & record relief: Ask state candidates to commit to expungements, small-business entry, and local-control rules that don’t become de-facto bans.
Bottom line
South Florida voters have unusual leverage in 2026. At the federal level, your incumbents are already among Congress’s loudest bipartisan voices for rescheduling—a change that would immediately improve cannabis finance and operations. At the state level, your votes will determine whether the 2026 adult-use amendment even reaches the ballot—and how it’s implemented if it passes.
If the pro-industry coalition holds in Congress and Florida voters crest 60% in 2026, the Sunshine State could move from a medical-only outlier to one of the largest adult-use markets in the U.S. The next year of organizing—and your ballot—will decide it.