When Ashley Moody moved Monday to block a recreational marijuana initiative from the 2024 Florida ballot, many saw the effort as the attorney general preparing the field for a Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign.

The Adult Use of Marijuana amendment is expected to attract infrequent and new voters to the polls, according to proponents, Democrats and consultants.

NORML, a 53-year-old nationwide advocacy group for the legalization of marijuana, finds when marijuana is on the ballot voter turnout increases between five and 10 percent.

“If you think about how tight Florida was, over the past several years that could drive things. Typically, if you give people something they want to go vote for it, they’ll go vote for it,” said Chris Cano, executive director of the Suncoast chapter of NORML, and a national board member.

The Smart & Safe Florida Committee led by country rock star David Bellamy and bankrolled by Quincy-based Trulieve has spent $38 million to collect signatures in support of the amendment.

It is within 100,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

Moody who has opposed previous initiatives has twice successfully run for Attorney General without taking a definitive stand on marijuana laws.

[Read more at Tallahassee Democrat]