If approved, would recreational marijuana tax money benefit Florida schools?

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – Would you support allowing recreational marijuana use in Florida if the money generated from drug sales would benefit Florida schools and neighborhoods?

A new ad claims legalizing recreational marijuana will generate billions for safer schools and communities.

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News4JAX spoke to people on both sides of the issue and our political analyst, and looked at how other states distribute their marijuana money.

In a new commercial funded by Smart and Safe Florida, recreational marijuana advocates promise a statewide benefit, saying the tax money generated will help improve local Florida schools and neighborhoods.

“Vote Yes on Amendment 3, which gives adults access and freedom to make decisions in their own homes, while generating billions for safer schools and communities,” the ad says.

According to a Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference report released in July 2023, recreational marijuana will generate sales tax revenue of between $195 million and $431 million per year in Florida. These sales tax dollars would mostly go to the state, just like any other sales tax. However, there is currently no plan to earmark the money for any specific use.

News4JAX asked voters if the promise to dedicate marijuana revenue to local schools would affect their votes.

“There is no benefit to him. America needs to wake up. It’s time to get rid of him,” said one likely voter.

Joseph Lowe, who suffered a stroke earlier this year, is an advocate for medical marijuana. Florida voters legalized it in 2016, and he says it has helped him cope tremendously.

“It helps me with anxiety. I had a stroke in March and it helps me relax and also with eating,” Lowe said.

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News4JAX political analyst Rick Mullaney said it’s still too early to know exactly where sales tax revenue will go if Amendment 3 passes. The decision will ultimately be made by state lawmakers.

“The argument that it generates additional revenue is correct. Where that revenue goes is under a lot of scrutiny,” Mullaney said. “One of their arguments is that it increases revenue for education. But that may not be entirely accurate. When revenue is generated from increased marijuana sales, that is sales tax revenue, which is controlled by the state legislature. It’s not clear how they would allocate it.”

Some states that have legalized recreational marijuana have created separate excise taxes, in addition to regular sales taxes, with specific uses for those additional tax dollars.

In Arizona:

• 34% of proceeds go to community college districts.

• 34% goes to public safety, including police and fire departments.

• 25% goes to the highway user revenue fund.

In Oregon:

• 40% of cannabis taxes go to a state school fund.

• 20% goes to mental health treatment or prevention, early intervention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.

• 15% goes to the state police.

• 10% goes to cities

• 10% goes to counties.

• 5% goes to the Oregon Health Authority for a separate program.

If Florida legalizes recreational marijuana, lawmakers will need to create additional taxes to earmark marijuana tax money for specific uses.

For the amendment to pass, 60% of voters will need to approve it in November.

A total of 24 states, plus the District of Columbia, have legalized recreational use of marijuana.