TALLAHASSEE — Florida would become the 22d state to legalize the medical use of marijuana if voters approve a measure that the state’s highest court said can be on the ballot in November.
Florida’s Supreme Court said in a 4-3 opinion Monday that an initiative submitted by People United for Medical Marijuana meets requirements for inclusion on the ballot, allowing it to come before voters. The state attorney general opposed the move, saying the amendment’s title and summary would mislead voters and allow ‘‘far wider’’ use.
Voters ‘‘will be able to cast an intelligent and informed ballot,’’ the court said in a decision that turned aside arguments that the amendment’s title and summary were confusing.
Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, according to the website for marijuana-reform organization NORML. Voters in Colorado and Washington approved ballot measures in 2012 to legalize recreational use of the drug.
The law, if approved, would allow those suffering from glaucoma, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses to receive marijuana if doctors determine the benefits outweigh health risks. Insurance companies would not be required to pay for the drug, and users could not operate cars or boats.