Medical marijuana advocates are laying the groundwork for a new campaign for 2016.

Advocates say unless Republican leaders agree to pass legislation in Florida legalizing medical marijuana, a new petition drive for an amendment will begin in January.

The Florida Medical Marijuana Business Association said they are optimistic the legislature will at least give medical marijuana an up or down vote sometime in the next two years.

Amendment 2 failed on the November ballot, but only by three percentage points. A majority of Florida voters approved the amendment, just not enough to reach the magic number 60 percent that's required by the Florida constitution.

Voter turnout is expected to be much higher in 2016.