Florida GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Oppose Recreational Marijuana Legalization
GOP gubernatorial candidates Byron Donalds and James Fishback firmly oppose recreational marijuana legalization despite growing voter support in Florida.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — The leading Republican candidates for Florida governor have taken firm stances against legalizing recreational marijuana, even as the issue remains off the ballot for 2026 after a petition drive fell short earlier this year.
During a campaign event Tuesday at the Getaway, a waterfront restaurant and Tiki bar in St. Petersburg, GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds was asked directly about his position on recreational cannabis at a “Business Women for Byron” gathering.
“I do not support recreational marijuana,” Donalds replied. “I think the current regulatory system around medicinal use is fine.”
Past Ballot Measure Shaped Current Debate
The recreational marijuana issue disappeared as a campaign topic after Smart & Safe Florida failed to collect the nearly 880,000 verified petition signatures needed to place the measure before voters this November. The organization had attempted to revive the issue following the narrow defeat of a similar measure in November 2024.
In that election, nearly 56% of Floridians voted to legalize adult use of recreational marijuana, representing a clear majority but falling short of the 60% threshold required for constitutional amendments to pass in Florida.
Donalds acknowledged his personal history with cannabis during his comments, having previously admitted to CBS Miami that he was arrested for possessing “a dime bag of marijuana” as a teenager and had sold small amounts of the drug in his youth.
Other GOP Candidates Take Similar Positions
The other Republicans seeking the governor’s mansion share Donalds’ opposition to recreational legalization. Investment firm CEO James Fishback told the Florida Phoenix in a text message, “I oppose recreational marijuana in Florida. I have seen what it has done to cities that have already tried it, from New York to Chicago.”
The candidates’ positions stand in contrast to Florida’s robust medical marijuana program, which currently serves 924,820 qualified patients according to the state Office of Medical Marijuana Use.
Donalds indicated he supports maintaining the existing medical marijuana regulatory framework while opposing any expansion to recreational use. The current system allows qualified patients to access cannabis products through licensed dispensaries across the state.
The gubernatorial candidates’ unified opposition to recreational marijuana reflects the Republican Party’s traditional stance on drug policy, even as public opinion polling has shown growing support for legalization among Florida voters in recent years.
