Florida Cannabis Campaign Hit with Fines and Fraud Allegations

Florida’s cannabis legalization effort is facing new hurdles as state officials slap the campaign with hefty fines and serious accusations. Here’s what’s happening with the Smart & Safe Florida campaign and why it matters.

The Fine: Missing Deadlines Costs Big Money

Florida election officials aren’t happy with Smart & Safe Florida, the group that led last year’s cannabis legalization push. They’ve handed down a $121,850 fine because the campaign allegedly turned in over 2,400 petition forms after the legal deadline.

Deputy Secretary of State Brad McVay sent a letter explaining that petition forms from five counties—Alachua, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, and Leon—came in more than 30 days after they were collected, breaking state rules.

Beyond Late Paperwork: Fraud Allegations Surface

The problems don’t stop at missed deadlines. State officials are also pointing fingers at what they call “forged or fraudulent” petitions. In one eyebrow-raising example, they found a petition supposedly signed in February 2025 by someone who passed away in November 2024.

Another issue involves potentially duplicate submissions. Some Florida voters received mailers containing two petition forms—one pre-filled and one blank—and ended up returning both with the same name. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections has flagged more than 100 voters for this reason.

The Campaign’s Response: “We Did Nothing Wrong”

Smart & Safe Florida isn’t taking these accusations lying down. They explained that the dual forms were meant for households with multiple voters—not for the same person to sign twice. In their words, any duplicates were likely “just a case of confusion with the mailing process” rather than deliberate fraud.

“These allegations represent a fundamental misunderstanding of our grassroots campaign process,” said Morgan Johnson, spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida. “We’re fighting not just for cannabis reform, but for Floridians’ right to have their voices heard through the ballot initiative process. The timing and nature of these accusations suggest this is more about politics than procedure.”

As for the other allegations, the campaign told Florida’s Voice that the claims “appear to be a targeted effort to thwart the ability for the people of Florida to express their support” for legalization. They emphasized that lawyers had reviewed all their materials before mailing.

What Else Did Officials Find?

State officials also took issue with the petition forms themselves. According to McVay, the campaign sent out forms containing a hyperlink to the proposed amendment text—something not included in the state-approved version. Rules require the full amendment text to be visible before voters sign, not just accessible via link.

The state has demanded that Smart & Safe immediately stop using or distributing these “non-approved petition forms.”

Last Year’s Near Miss

This controversy follows last year’s disappointing outcome for cannabis supporters. The legalization measure received nearly 56% voter approval—a clear majority, but shy of the 60% required to change Florida’s constitution.

What’s Next?

The campaign says they’re “looking forward to challenging the validity of these claims.” With significant financial penalties and their credibility on the line, Smart & Safe Florida faces an uphill battle as they continue pushing for cannabis reform in the Sunshine State.

The situation highlights the complex web of rules governing ballot initiatives in Florida—and shows just how carefully campaigns must tread when working to change state law through direct democracy.