The Republican Party of Florida has declared its opposition to Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that, if passed in the November ballot, would legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older. This decision was reached following a vote by the Executive Board of the Republican Party of Florida during its quarterly meeting in Orlando, as announced by RPOF Vice Chair Jesse Phillips.

RPOF Chair Evan Power explained the party's decision in a statement released on Monday, saying, “Our legislature continues to pass laws that align with Florida’s priorities, and Amendments 3 and 4 simply represent needless endeavors by a shrinking minority trying to push their radical views by confusing voters.”

On the other side, Smart and Safe Florida, the campaign working to secure the passage of Amendment 3, criticized the Republican Party's announcement. Morgan Hill, the group's communications director, stated, “The choice to legalize adult-use cannabis is up to the citizens of Florida, not a select group of political figures. Amendment 3 enjoys widespread support across party lines because it ensures accountability, transparency, and safety in the legalization process.”

Smart & Safe Florida is committed to facilitating safe access to cannabis products while allowing the state legislature to implement thorough regulations covering all aspects from cultivation to public consumption, which is a standard approach for new policies in the state.

Governor Ron DeSantis also expressed his opposition last week, planning to use his influence to campaign against both the cannabis legalization and abortion rights amendments on this year's ballot. At a Tampa bill-signing event, DeSantis commented on the recreational cannabis initiative, “We are going to start to smell like marijuana statewide,” underscoring his belief that Florida's extensive medical marijuana program, which serves nearly 881,000 patients, is sufficient.

The RPOF Executive Board also laid out their positions on the other constitutional amendments voters will consider on November 5 in Florida:

- A YES vote on Amendment 1, advocating for the partisan election of school boards.

- A YES vote on Amendment 2, affirming the right to fish and hunt.

- A NO vote on Amendment 3, against the legalization of recreational marijuana.

- A NO vote on Amendment 4, regarding the abortion rights amendment.

- A YES vote on Amendment 5, concerning adjustments to homestead exemptions.

- A YES vote on Amendment 6, aiming to repeal specific campaign finance regulations. These recommendations are aligned with the party’s overall electoral strategy and their vision for the state’s governance.