Despite millions of dollars in campaigning, supporters could not get 60 percent of voters to pass medical marijuana in Florida.
The Associated Press said voters rejected Amendment 2 Tuesday night.
A majority of Floridians — 58 percent — supported Amendment 2. But in Florida, amendments to the constitution must pass with a 60 percent majority.
Supporters and critics of Amendment 2 poured millions of dollars into their campaigns. One man with a lot at stake was attorney John Morgan, who dropped about $5 million of his own money to get the amendment passed.
Morgan said it's always been a personal fight for him. His brother Tim is paralyzed and needs medical marijuana to help with muscle spasms and pain relief.
Morgan did not attend his group's party Tuesday night. He did, however, issue a statement:
"We may not have passed amendment 2 tonight but make no mistake, tonight was a victory in the fight for medical marijuana in Florida. Our next governor will take the oath of office having won less than a majority of Floridians' votes. The idea that marijuana is medicine and that those suffering and in pain should not be made criminals, received a larger share of the vote than the winner of the last 6 gubernatorial elections (if over 56) and every presidential campaign in Florida for decades.
"Tallahassee didn't act, so the people had to.
"Well tonight, the people have spoken their will - and their will is for Florida to join 23 other states in passing a medical marijuana law for people like Cathy Jordan and my brother Tim.
"This fight does not end tonight. This fight begins tonight. Tomorrow we go to Tallahassee.
"Tallahassee politicians can ignore polls and ignore activists. They cannot ignore a clear majority of Florida voters. We will not be ignored.
"The governor and the leadership of the house and senate MUST listen to the people who gave them their jobs. They must act on this issue. They must pass a medical marijuana law in the 2015 session that serves the hundreds of thousands of sick and suffering Floridians who are desperate for one.
"If they don't - we'll be back on the ballot in 2016. And the will of the people WILL NOT be denied a second time.
"I have this final message to the patients in Florida - compassion may have been delayed, but it is coming."
The biggest donor to the anti-medical marijuana campaign is Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who's donated over $5 and a half million to fight Amendment 2.
"Vote No on 2" used local law enforcement, doctors and others to warn people of consequences Amendment 2 could have on the state.
The Florida Sheriff's Association was also a big critic of Amendment 2, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued this statement on behalf of the group Tuesday:
"For the past year, the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot Coalition have been educating Floridians about the dangers of legalizing marijuana and the likely impact if Amendment 2 were passed. Florida voters have spoken and Article X, Section 29 will not be added to the Florida Constitution.
"'We are confident that the voters of Florida have made the right decision,' said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. 'The people of Florida were too smart to buy into the weak language and huge loopholes into this amendment, which would have created de facto legalization of marijuana and given our children legal access.
"'The Florida Sheriffs Association is dedicated to the education of Floridians,' Judd continued. 'The goal of Sheriffs every day is to keep Floridians safe by creating an environment where residents and visitors alike can live, work and play.'
"The Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot Coalition believes that legalization of marijuana would have adversely impacted our state and its citizens."