PENSACOLA, Fla. (WEAR) — Gov. Ron DeSantis says he opposes Florida’s proposed Amendment Three.
It would legalize adult recreational use of marijuana in the state.
DeSantis thinks the amendment is too broad and could negatively impact the quality of life in Florida. But many folks disagree.
WEAR News spoke with an advocacy group in favor of the amendment. They say it would help the economy and decrease the number of overdoses from laced marijuana.
“I’m not for it, I don’t think it’s good to do,” DeSantis said. “I don’t think we need to mess up the state.”
Governor DeSantis said he is concerned Florida could become like other places that have legalized recreational use while speaking before Florida delegates this week in Milwaukee.
“Ten years ago, Colorado did it and said look, people are using it anyway. If you legalize it, you tax it. It’s safer, it’ll shut down the drug trade, and it will probably be more for public safety,” DeSantis said. I get that but that was tried and that failed.”
“You go to places like Denver and it smells like marijuana,” he added. ” It’s not been good for quality of life.”
He fears that people could use it anywhere and at any time.
Taylor Bishop is the Vice President of the Krewe de Kannabis, an organization that advocates for the legalization of recreational use and aims to break the stigma about marijuana through education and advocacy, even going to the capitol to discuss it with lawmakers.
“If we really are looking out for public safety and what is best for the public, legalizing marijuana can help us to do that,” Bishop said.
She says if recreational use for adults was legal in Florida, the number of overdoses on street drugs in our area would go down.
She says some accidental overdoses occur when people buy marijuana off the street and discover it contains a fatal dose of fentanyl or other harmful drugs.
“Right now, there is a huge overdose pandemic epidemic in Escambia County and by legalizing marijuana, you will decrease that significantly by allowing more people to have adult access to recreational marijuana,” Bishop said.
Escambia County EMS dashboard says so far this year, crews have responded to 982 overdoses. That’s more than 2.5 overdoses every day.
Crystal Silins is the President of Krewe de Kannabis. She says legalizing recreational use would reduce that number and help the economy.
“Everybody knows somebody who’s been affected by losing someone to an overdose and it’s just as common as cancer these days,” Silins said.
“Different states out there have been donating extra tax funding that they get off of the revenue from cannabis sales to local schools, local business, and local government,” Silins said. “It’s out there and it’s proven that a little chunk of change goes a long way even in the state of Florida. There is a little bit that is going to the government and to the state from the medical marihuana sales, so small percentages can go a long way.”
despite the governor’s claims, she says the amendment would be regulated if passed.
“It doesn’t mean that everyone can go out there and just light one up in the streets,” Silins said.
“There’s going to be additional regulation that comes in place. Every year we have a legislative session that introduces new ideas, new reform, and new ways to shape the laws to make them favorable, and safe,” Silins said.
The amendment needs 60% of voters to vote yes in order to pass.
A recent poll by Florida Politics found 64% support.
Another by Fox News found 66% support. Both polls found broad support from every demographic except people over 65.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says he opposes Florida’s proposed Amendment Three. It would legalize adult recreational use of marijuana in the state. Read More