Is recreational marijuana coming to Florida?

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Should recreational marijuana be legal in the Sunshine State?

Some say it's nothing more than a pipe dream. Others are taking the future of marijuana into their own hands with a petition drive.

The goal of this petition is to get a recreational marijuana question on the ballot.

According to the Florida Division of Elections, there are currently about 57,000 valid signatures submitted statewide so far.

But organizers have a long way to go; they need almost 800,000.

Melinda Redden of Boynton Beach is a medical marijuana patient.

Redden---a widow and former restaurant cook---hopes Florida legalizes recreational marijuana.

"Oh, I think it would be great for the state’s income," she said.

Redden feels it will bring in tax dollars and attract more tourists.

About 71 percent of Florida voters approved medical pot in 2016 and dispensaries like Fluent Cannabis Care in Lake Worth Beach sell it in various forms, such as whole flower as well as creams, capsules, drops and pre-rolled joints.

The head of Fluent, which has 16 dispensaries around the state, believes it’s not a matter of if Florida will legalize recreational marijuana, but when.

“I think recreational marijuana would be very good for Florida," said Jose Hidalgo, CEO of Fluent Cannabis Care.

Hidalgo says people will no longer have to buy it on the black market, so they’ll get safer marijuana.

“Having access to safely manufactured, tested product in the state, I think it’s a win-win for everybody," he said.

“All you’re doing is just laying in another addictive, destructive chemical that just has an adverse effect across the entire community," said Jeff Kadel, executive director of Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition.

Kadel, head of a nonprofit that works to combat substance abuse, has a 16-year-old son.

“I’m telling him the same thing I’ve been telling him, just stay away from it," he said.

Kadel says legalized recreational marijuana in Florida would have negative consequences.

“We know that short-term and long-term brain development can be affected. We know that early use often leads to a higher rate of addiction," he said.

Once all the signatures have been collected and verified, the State Supreme court will review it.

Then if it makes it to the ballot next November, at least 60 percent of Florida voters would have to approve it before recreational marijuana would be legal.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he's adamantly against the idea.