Understanding Amendment 3 ads: What marijuana legalization really means for Florida

Election year comes with plenty of political campaign ads, and a hot topic of discussion on the ballot in 2024 is Amendment 3 – the legalization of recreational marijuana.The “Vote No on 3” committee wants voters to believe that if the amendment is passed, people will be lighting up everywhere.Related video above: Fact-checking Amendment 3 adsAn ad that is circulating now makes the following claim:“It’s about smoking anywhere in public. Even at restaurants. Nobody wants that. Yeah, can you imagine what our hotels would smell like? That would be awful. Smoking at home is one thing, but not in our bar.”First Lady Casey DeSantis makes an appearance in the ad while standing at a park with kids swinging in the background, stating:“What about our playgrounds? Can you imagine bringing your family here just as I bring my family to a park, where there are innocent children and people are smoking marijuana everywhere?”The issue with the anti-Amendment 3 ad is the language: “Will authorize marijuana smoking in public spaces.” If you read Amendment 3, you will find that claim is nowhere in the language.Restaurants, theme parks and any other place of business would not be forced to allow residents to smoke marijuana in their establishments.Under the Florida State Law, smoking in most public indoor places is already prohibited.Additionally, Florida law states cities and counties can ban smoking and vaping in public parks and on beaches at the local level. Related: Fact Check: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks against Amendment 3 on marijuanaSo far, Florida has run more than 13,000 political TV ads, 5,000 radio ads, plus digital and billboard ads. Attorney John Morgan said taxpayers should be furious.”This is about money; this is not about you, because if it was about you, then the government would not be trying to give us false information about, you know, children being injured by gummies,” said Attorney John Morgan.State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Sunny Isles Beach) said if Amendment 3 passes, claims it will save lives.”Instead of something being laced with fentanyl on the corner that they buy at 2:00 in the morning. Something that’s vacuum sealed, quality controlled and lab tested; this is going to save people’s lives,” Pizzo said.Former President and current Republican candidate Donald Trump recently said he would vote yes on the Florida Ballot measure to legalize marijuana.Some also fear that the legalization of recreational marijuana may potentially lead to a greater drug problem in the state.An amendment needs a supermajority with at least 60% to pass. If passed, the amendment would allow people ages 21 and older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and accessories for non-medical personal use.DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.