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Donald Trump’s support for an amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana in Florida for those aged 21 and over has sparked an angry response from some Republicans in the Sunshine State.
In November, Floridians are set to vote on the proposal, called Amendment 3, and on an abortion amendment that would establish a constitutional right to the treatment until fetal viability.
Trump’s position on the proposal put him at odds with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom he defeated to secure the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in an often bitter contest. In recent months, Trump has angered some of his conservative base by adopting relatively liberal positions on social issues such as abortion. The Republicans’ underperformance at the 2022 midterm elections, when a widely expected “red wave” failed to materialize, was largely attributed to a backlash after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
In a post on his Truth Social website, Trump wrote: “As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use. We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product.
“As a Floridian, I will be voting YES to Amendment 3 this November. As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including safe banking for state authorized companies, and supporting states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens.”
On X, formerly Twitter, a self-styled “pro-DeSantis” Republican shared a screenshot of Trump’s message, adding: “Trump supporting Amendment 3 in Florida is incredibly stupid.
“Legalizing recreational marijuana would ruin Florida’s outdoor areas. The beaches will stink. Almost every park will stink. It will be a tremendous negative for the state.”
Speaking to MSNBC, Stuart Stevens, who served as chief strategist for Mitt Romney‘s presidential campaign in 2012, commented: “Donald Trump, he’s on both sides of so many of these issues. I mean, within an hour he reversed himself on what position he was going to take on the abortion referendum in Florida. It’s because there’s nothing there except this desire to be president, this desire to be in control … so he’ll say anything.”
Donald Trump at the fall meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police’s National Board of Trustees. The former president’s support for marijuana legalization in Florida has sparked a backlash from some conservatives in the state….
Donald Trump at the fall meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police’s National Board of Trustees. The former president’s support for marijuana legalization in Florida has sparked a backlash from some conservatives in the state.
Grant Baldwin/GETTY
Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady, released a statement opposing the marijuana legalization proposal, writing on X: “Amendment 3 creates a permanent, constitutional right to possess over 100 joints at a time and SMOKE ANYWHERE in Florida—even public places where it could more easily fall into the hands of children.
“What’s more, it creates a monopoly & blanket legal immunity for big weed corporations who spent $60+ million to write and get Am. 3 on the ballot. This isn’t the marijuana amendment, it’s the monopoly amendment—vote NO on 3.”
Jenna Ellis, a former Trump attorney in Florida who pleaded guilty in October to a felony count in the former president’s Georgia election interference case as part of a deal with prosecutors, shared the first lady’s message.
Ellis wrote: “Trust Casey DeSantis over Trump on this one 100%. Trump is yielding to what he thinks his base wants without realizing (or caring?) about the consequences to everyday Floridians.”
Newsweek contacted Trump’s presidential campaign for comment via email outside regular business hours.
In an X post, Anthony Sabatini, the chair of the Lake County Republican Party, said: “Vote HELL NO on Amendment 3 in Florida.
“If it passes, EVERY public area will be choked out by a cloud of marijuana smoke & the sour stench of marijuana will be a constant on every highway you drive. The Florida Legislature will NOT be able to fix it—the problem will be too big.”
On social media, Trump’s support for recreational marijuana legalization has won him some plaudits, including from Ja’Mal Green, a former mayoral candidate in Chicago. Green wrote on X: “Yo, the fact that Trump is coming out for the legalization of marijuana before the democrats in power actually do it, is crazy lol. No reason why weed shouldn’t be legal and fully decriminalized while many get their records expunged and those in prison for possession return home.”
Joe Gruters, a Republican state senator in Florida, commented on X: “I am incredibly proud to have President Trump stand alongside us in our effort to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for simple possession of marijuana and to give Floridians the same individual freedom to choose safe, tested products that more than half the country already enjoys.”
“}]] A Republican who supports Governor Ron DeSantis called the former president’s position “incredibly stupid.” Read More
