In a social media publish this morning, Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump threw his weight behind a Florida poll initiative that will legalize leisure marijuana for adults, although he stated the state Legislature would want to go a ban Public Use Legal guidelines.
Trump, a Florida resident, has been teasing for weeks that he would announce his stance on Modification 3, a proposed constitutional modification put earlier than Florida voters this November. This morning, Trump stated in an article printed on Reality Social wrote:
In Florida, like many different states which have ratified, private quantities of marijuana will probably be legalized for adults underneath the Third Modification. . We’d like state legislatures to responsibly enact legal guidelines banning marijuana use in public locations so we don’t scent it in all places like we do in lots of Democratic-run cities. On the identical time, in Florida, somebody shouldn’t be a felony when it’s authorized in lots of different states. We don’t have to destroy lives, waste taxpayer {dollars}, arrest adults for carrying private portions, or have family members grieve as a result of they died from marijuana laced with fentanyl. We are going to make America protected once more!
Modification 3 would legalize leisure marijuana, permitting adults 21 and older to own as much as 3 ounces of marijuana and 5 grams of concentrated THC.
Whereas the Legislature is free to develop its personal regulatory plan, solely firms already licensed to promote medical marijuana can first promote leisure marijuana. The measure wouldn’t permit dwelling cultivation or expunge previous marijuana convictions.
Trump’s publish didn’t straight point out he would vote for it. This appeared to point that passage of the Third Modification was inevitable. Nevertheless it’s a noteworthy selection from the candidate.
Trump typically mused on the problem of executing drug sellers on the marketing campaign path, however as president he additionally commuted the sentences of some federal drug offenders whom he stated had been unfairly sentenced.
Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, was additionally a former legalization skeptic. However she has additionally softened her stance to suit the present political winds, making her and Trump two unlikely backers of decriminalization.
Trump’s endorsement additionally rankled his former main opponent, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis opposed the modification and devoted appreciable time and assets to defeating it.
“I have been to some cities the place these things is in all places and it smells and all these things,” DeSantis stated. explain at a press convention earlier this 12 months. “I do not need to stroll in entrance of a retailer and eat this. I do not need each lodge to scent unhealthy.”
The Third Modification motion is funded by multi-state marijuana firms working medical marijuana dispensaries in Florida, which might personal the complete leisure market if the modification passes.
Florida’s marijuana trade has shut ties with Florida Republicans, Make an alliance Working with DeSantis to attempt to keep away from being shut out of the market.
The passage of the Third Modification was under no circumstances a positive factor. Florida’s constitutional modification requires a 60% supermajority to go.
In 2016, Florida voters accredited an modification to legalize medical marijuana, with 71% of voters supporting the measure.