Law enforcement divided over Amendment 3 to legalize marijuana in Florida
A new political ad supporting Amendment 3 to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older has sparked debate among law enforcement and voters in Florida.”We fought a war on drugs and lost. On marijuana, it’s time for a new approach,” former officer Tim Hightower says in the ad.Smart and Safe Florida is funding and creating this and other ads to persuade Florida voters to pass recreational cannabis.”Amendment 3 allows responsible adults to buy safe, regulated, lab-tested marijuana from a store, not the streets … allowing law enforcement to focus on serious crimes,” the ad continues.However, the ad does not address the chief concern expressed by law enforcement: that recreational marijuana may lead to more people being impaired and dangerous on the roads.”I do not support the legalization of marijuana,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told WESH 2 News.Chitwood joins the Florida Sheriff’s Association and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in opposing Amendment 3.”DUI crashes because of marijuana are up like 24%, and if you look at the National Institute for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, the number of work-related incidents and absentees is almost double among marijuana users than the regular workforce,” Chitwood said, citing information from other states that have legalized recreational cannabis, including Colorado.Voters WESH 2 News talked with are split regarding Amendment 3.Fabio Borges, who drives a big truck, worries people driving while high could be the worst kind of road hazard.”Maybe someone smokes too much could be dangerous for all of the citizens, and I think it is dangerous. Maybe someone who is driving a big truck like you are? Yeah, you see. It could be deadly,” Borges said.But Peter Dumas said he’s voting for the measure.”Just like alcohol and anything else. Just have your regulations for it. I’m sure that cops will be out there doing their checks and things too, like they do for alcohol,” Dumas said.So far, with medical marijuana dispensers pouring upwards of $70 million into the “Yes on 3” campaign, most recent polls show more than 60% of Florida voters plan to vote for it.
A new political ad supporting Amendment 3 to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older has sparked debate among law enforcement and voters in Florida.
“We fought a war on drugs and lost. On marijuana, it’s time for a new approach,” former officer Tim Hightower says in the ad.
Smart and Safe Florida is funding and creating this and other ads to persuade Florida voters to pass recreational cannabis.
“Amendment 3 allows responsible adults to buy safe, regulated, lab-tested marijuana from a store, not the streets … allowing law enforcement to focus on serious crimes,” the ad continues.
However, the ad does not address the chief concern expressed by law enforcement: that recreational marijuana may lead to more people being impaired and dangerous on the roads.
“I do not support the legalization of marijuana,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told WESH 2 News.
Chitwood joins the Florida Sheriff’s Association and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in opposing Amendment 3.
“DUI crashes because of marijuana are up like 24%, and if you look at the National Institute for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, the number of work-related incidents and absentees is almost double among marijuana users than the regular workforce,” Chitwood said, citing information from other states that have legalized recreational cannabis, including Colorado.
Voters WESH 2 News talked with are split regarding Amendment 3.
Fabio Borges, who drives a big truck, worries people driving while high could be the worst kind of road hazard.
“Maybe someone smokes too much could be dangerous for all of the citizens, and I think it is dangerous. Maybe someone who is driving a big truck like you are? Yeah, you see. It could be deadly,” Borges said.
But Peter Dumas said he’s voting for the measure.
“Just like alcohol and anything else. Just have your regulations for it. I’m sure that cops will be out there doing their checks and things too, like they do for alcohol,” Dumas said.
So far, with medical marijuana dispensers pouring upwards of $70 million into the “Yes on 3” campaign, most recent polls show more than 60% of Florida voters plan to vote for it.