Get The Facts: Will Amendment 3 allow you to grow your own marijuana plants?

“Amendment 3 could legalize recreational marijuana.” That’s how an anti-Amendment 3 political ad begins, with the backdrop of a patio, under a sunny sky and an amateur “grower” excited to hear in a commercial that marijuana may be legalized in Florida. The ad comes from the Republican Party of Florida and is helping the “Vote No on 3″ campaign (backed by the political committee Keep Florida Clean) try to snuff out attempts to legalize cannabis. Related: What amendments will be on Florida’s ballot?The commercial addresses the question: can you grow your own weed if Amendment 3 passes? It then shows the excited “grower” to his backyard with gardening tools in hand, only to run into a man lounging there, calling himself “Big Weed.””What do you think you’re doing?” Big Weed says. “I’m getting ready to grow my weed. Amendment 3 is on the ballot, and OH my God! Who are you?” the grower says. “I’m Big Weed. Actually, we wrote Amendment 3, so we’re the only ones who can grow it,” Big Weed says. “So I can’t grow… ” the grower asks”… not even one plant,” Big Weed says. Let’s Get the Facts. And let’s take this in parts. First, Did the big cannabis corporations write Amendment 3? That’s a fact. The political committee behind it, Smart & Safe Florida, is funded mostly by the state’s biggest medical marijuana producer and seller, Trulieve, and its CEO Kim Rivers.Related: 1-on-1 with Trulieve Cannabis CEO ahead of Florida’s Amendment 3 vote If Amendment 3 passes, will only those big companies get to grow and sell it? That, too, is a fact. But the commercial wants you to believe the Amendment would prohibit homegrown cannabis. That’s false. Nowhere in the language of the full explanation of the Amendment does it expressly forbid homegrown cannabis. Dr. Jessica Spencer of “Vote No On 3” confirmed that in our exclusive WESH 2 News, Commitment 2024 debate. “It doesn’t address whether a guy can take his box full of garden tools and seeds to the backyard and start digging a hole and growing cannabis. You agree with that right?” reporter Greg Fox asked. “Correct … I absolutely… because the word cultivate is not there,” Spencer said. Also during the debate, attorney John Morgan of “Yes on 3” said state lawmakers could authorize homegrown cannabis if Amendment 3 passes, adding, “They (lawmakers) have the power to do that. You can’t do it by constitutional amendment.” Something “big weed” has done pretty well: “growing” support for Amendment 3. A new University of North Florida-Public Opinion Research Lab survey shows that 60% of Florida voters, are voting “yes” on 3. You can watch the entire Amendment 3 debate belowCommitment 2024Commitment 2024 is WESH 2’s long-running political initiative to bring the most comprehensive, fact-based information to viewers.Commitment 2024 debate series: General election races>> More Commitment 2024 headlinesRelated: What to know about mail-in voting in FloridaRelated: When does early voting start in Florida’s presidential election