Gray Rohrer
Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to deride a measure legalizing recreational marijuana, raising the specter of users smoking near K-12 schools.
“That would be put in the constitution. So someone walking by an elementary school just sitting there toking up that’s somehow okay?” DeSantis told reporters at an event in Miami. “How is that good for the state of Florida?”
The measure, which will appear on the ballot as Amendment 3, would legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes by those over 21. It would also grant licensed medical marijuana treatment centers the ability to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute” marijuana and related products for such use.
The amendment also notes that it doesn’t change federal law, which still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug that is illegal.
Steve Vancore, a spokesman for the Smart & Safe Florida group backing the ballot measure, counted DeSantis, noting the courts have recognized the Legislature’s power to restrict where and when certain substances can be used. He pointed specifically to tobacco.
“The Legislature has broad discretion under its police powers to regulate conduct in the public interest, and there is ample precedent for regulation of public behavior that would support legislation governing use of marijuana in public places,” Vancore stated. “Additionally, please note that while you may have the right to smoke tobacco, for example, you do not have the unrestricted right to smoke in public places like restaurants or libraries. The same would apply to public smoking of marijuana and we of course would strongly support the limitations of public smoking just as the state already does for tobacco products.”
If 60% of voters approve the measure, it would take effect six months after the November election. Voters in 2016 approved an amendment legalizing marijuana for medical use.
DeSantis signed a bill in 2019 implementing that medical marijuana measure, which he said gives him credibility on the issue.
“This amendment is the broadest amendment yet and I think it’s basically going to green light marijuana usage in all these different parts of the state where we don’t want that to happen,” DeSantis said. “That is not good for families, that is not good for the elderly.”
DeSantis also noted that marijuana companies are backing the measure. Trulieve has led the way, donating more than $40 million to get it on the ballot, and was joined by Verano Holdings, Curaleaf, Greenthumb Industries, Ayr Wellness Inc. and Cresco Labs in the last quarter, during which Smart & Safe Florida, the political committee behind the effort, raised nearly $14.9 million.
“People aren’t putting tens of millions of dollars behind that out of the goodness of their heart,” DeSantis said. “They are going to make a lot of money if that amendment passes so you’d be making some companies very, very rich.”
DeSantis’ political committee received a $25,000 donation from Trulieve in November 2020, two years before it began its push to get recreational marijuana on the ballot.
23 comments
tom palmer
April 17, 2024 at 2:17 pm
The propaganda war of the parade of the horribles begins. Ron “Reefer Madness” DeSantis in his usual mode.
Dont Say FLA
April 17, 2024 at 2:41 pm
Anything that honestly and legitimately improves the public’s respect for police officers is good for Florida.
And cops not routinely hassling TF out of people over something so benign as weed? That will position our cops to regain the trust and respect they used to generally receive from the public way back before “I am going home at the end of my shift” replaced “protect and serve” as the police motto. You know, back when America was so great.
Decades ago, cops were decent people doing honorable work, but over time, for far too many cops, that changed. Legal weed is a step toward changing that back to the USA being a place where If the cops are coming after you, it’s because you DID something. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Or Dee can get his way and this state can continue to crumble till it falls apart and slides into the sea.
Dahlia Canes
April 17, 2024 at 4:52 pm
I’d like to know what he’s on? Where has he been for the past 40 years? He’s afraid for the elderly? That’s who’ll probably be smoking it…lolol….the 60’s 70’s generation… his vision of reality is so far fetched it belongs in the Twilight Zone…
rick whitaker
April 18, 2024 at 10:10 pm
DAHLIA, many of my 70 plus friends use pot daily and they don’t drink. i know how desantis and cavanaugh love their beer.
Leshea
April 17, 2024 at 8:17 pm
As an Elderly (65) medical marijuana user, I take offense! I been smoking since I was 14. Only difference is don’t buy it from the streets. As a person whom suffers arthritis, herniated disk, etc. that cannot take NSAIDS, best option. No other pain medication.
rick whitaker
April 18, 2024 at 10:12 pm
leshea, most street pot is way better than the medical bull.
Brian Kelly
April 17, 2024 at 8:23 pm
There is absolutely no doubt now that the majority of Americans want to completely legalize cannabis nationwide. Our numbers grow on a daily basis.
The prohibitionist view on cannabis is the viewpoint of a minority and rapidly shrinking percentage of Americans. It is based upon decades of lies and propaganda.
Each and every tired old lie they have propagated has been thoroughly proven false by both science and society.
Their tired old rhetoric no longer holds any validity. The vast majority of Americans have seen through the sham of cannabis prohibition in this day and age. The number of prohibitionists left shrinks on a daily basis.
With their credibility shattered, and their not so hidden agendas visible to a much wiser public, what’s left for a cannabis prohibitionist to do?
Maybe, just come to terms with the fact that Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think, and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide!…and Support All Cannabis Legalization Efforts!
Earl Pitts "RON'S OFFICIAL "UNOFFICIAL VPOTUS CAMPAIGN MANAGER" American
April 18, 2024 at 7:38 pm
Good evening Brian,
Its time for you to lay off the weed my man. Not only does it make folks post long and boring posts which nobody reads …. but Brian ….. theres more so much more.
EARL PREACHES ON:
Brian smoking that weed makes otherwise ordinary good husbands and fathers turn to Homer Testical Sex with other men. Brian that is a Bibiclal Abomination. Usually a good family man will begin to feel funny around other men after smoking that weed. What that is Brian is the first step which is called “Homer-Curious”. Thats when you start feeling attracted inappropriatly (in a perverse sexual way) when around other men Brian. You may get inappropriate feelings and/or inappropriate wood.
Stop the weed use Brian if you keep smoking you will ruin your family, loose your job, and start talking with that homer testical lisping high pitched voice and swishing when you walk.
Stop the weed now Brian while you still can. Once you pass from Homer-Curious to a full blown Homer Testical, unfortunatly there is no turning back.
Thank you Brian,
Earl Pitts “Earl Cares About Brian” American
rick whitaker
April 18, 2024 at 8:00 pm
COMMENT BY EARL SHITS, GAY PEDATOR
Dont Say FLA
April 19, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Prohibition was not based upon decades of lies and propaganda.
It was propagated by decades of lies and propaganda.
It was based upon racism. Pure, simple, unadulterated racism. And that’s why Rhonda want to perpetuate prohibition.
Brian Kelly
April 17, 2024 at 8:23 pm
Fear of Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is unfounded. Not based on any science or fact whatsoever. So please prohibitionists, we beg you to give your scare tactics, “Conspiracy Theories” and “Doomsday Scenarios” over the inevitable Legalization of Cannabis Nationwide a rest. Nobody is buying them anymore these days. Okay?
Furthermore, if all prohibitionists get when they look into that nice, big and shiny crystal ball of theirs, while wondering about the future of cannabis legalization, is horror, doom, and despair, well then I suggest they return that thing as quickly as possible and reclaim the money they shelled out for it, since it’s obviously defective.
The prohibition of cannabis has not decreased the supply nor the demand for cannabis at all. Not one single iota, and it never will. Just a huge and complete waste of our tax dollars to continue criminalizing citizens for choosing a natural, non-toxic, relatively benign plant proven to be much safer than alcohol.
If prohibitionists are going to take it upon themselves to worry about “saving us all” from ourselves, then they need to start with the drug that causes more death and destruction than every other drug in the world COMBINED, which is alcohol!
Why do prohibitionists feel the continued need to vilify and demonize cannabis when they could more wisely focus their efforts on a real, proven killer, alcohol, which again causes more destruction, violence, and death than all other drugs, COMBINED?
Prohibitionists really should get their priorities straight and/or practice a little live and let live. They’ll live longer, happier, and healthier, with a lot less stress if they refrain from being bent on trying to control others through Draconian Cannabis Laws.
Brian Kelly
April 17, 2024 at 8:24 pm
It’s time for us, the majority of The People to take back control of our national cannabis policy. By voting OUT of office any and all politicians who very publicly and vocally admit to having an anti-cannabis, prohibitionist agenda! Time to vote’em all OUT of office. Period. Plain and simple.
Politicians who continue to demonize Cannabis, Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials who prefer to ruin peoples lives over Cannabis possession rather than solve real crimes who fund their departments toys and salaries with monies acquired through cannabis home raids, seizures and forfeitures, and so-called “Addiction Specialists” who make their income off of the judicial misfortunes of our citizens who choose cannabis, – Your actions go against The Will of The People and Your Days In Office Are Numbered! Find new careers before you don’t have one.
The People have spoken! Get on-board with Cannabis Legalization Nationwide, or be left behind and find new careers. Your choice.
Brian Kelly
April 17, 2024 at 8:24 pm
“Cannabis is 114 times safer than drinking alcohol”
“Cannabis may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say”
“Cannabis may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say New study: We should stop fighting Cannabis legalization and focus on alcohol and tobacco instead By Christopher Ingraham February 23
Compared with other recreational drugs — including alcohol — Cannabis may be even safer than previously thought. And researchers may be systematically underestimating risks associated with alcohol use.
Those are the top-line findings of recent research published in the journal Scientific Reports, a subsidiary of Nature. Researchers sought to quantify the risk of death associated with the use of a variety of commonly used substances. They found that at the level of individual use, alcohol was the deadliest substance, followed by heroin and cocaine.”
-Washington Post
“The report discovered that Cannabis is 114 times less deadly than alcohol. Researchers were able to determine this by comparing the lethal doses with the amount of typical use. Through this approach, Cannabis had the lowest mortality risk to users out of all the drugs they studied. In fact—because the numbers were crossed with typical daily use—Cannabis is the only drug that tested as “low risk.”
-Complex
Ron DeSatan stinks
April 18, 2024 at 8:25 am
Screw off Rona! I thought that you were pushing ” the free state of Florida” – but now it’s clear that you only support your twisted ideology of “freedom” – freedom to obey a dictator. My Bible says that God created plants for humans to use and enjoy and there is no exception for herb. You apparently don’t like the aroma of herb. I think you stink, so does that mean you should be illegal too? Why don’t you spend your paid time working to help Floridians instead of constantly campaigning for the White House? For someone with your education you sure sound like a fool. My advice to you is to keep your big mouth shut, let the voters decide whether or not to approve proposed constitutional amendments without noise pollution from you. I am embarrassed that you are Governor of my State. You are a loser and you will NEVER be my President. Please go back to Gitmo.
Dont Say FLA
April 21, 2024 at 9:29 pm
Rhonda’s idea of freedom in Florida is the freedom for everybody to do what Rhonda says
John L
April 23, 2024 at 11:19 am
He is a fascist that only uses Freedom bullcrap line if it fits the MAGA right wing bs like burning books. If its something that MAGA dislikes like dont say gay or weed, its fair game to take those freedoms away.
Tjb
April 21, 2024 at 11:43 am
Did anybody tell DeSantis that “toking up” is now happening close to the school and in the schools bathrooms. Ron is clueless to reality.
rick whitaker
April 21, 2024 at 12:17 pm
TJB, ron desantis is afraid that someone besides himself will get the good stuff. he don’t want a run on the good stuff because there will be less for him and his coven.
Joe
April 23, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Lol, yet another thing that cowardly Lil Governor Ratcliffe is mortally terrified of.
Seriously, how can any human possibly graduate from Harvard and Yale and serve in the military and STILL be such a dumb wuss?
Johnny Blitz
April 24, 2024 at 2:18 pm
“People aren’t putting tens of millions of dollars behind that out of the goodness of their heart,” DeSantis said. “They are going to make a lot of money if that amendment passes so you’d be making some companies very, very rich.”
And??? It’s called free market economy. If someone brings a product that everyone loves they are going to buy it and the company is going to make a profit. Just like tobacco and alcohol companies do. They make money off the people buying their harmful products. This governor loves to tout he’s so pro-market and “free”, but what I see is a dictator.
rick whitaker
April 29, 2024 at 11:48 am
JOHNNY BLITZ, you have good eyes.
TallyPatriot
April 29, 2024 at 11:15 am
This is why the GOP are horrible for governing. They can’t just lead and allow the people to decide. They have to lie and fill the news with BS propaganda.
rick whitaker
April 29, 2024 at 11:50 am
TALLYPATRIOT, gop/maga is the party of lies. everyone including trump knows this and is happy about it. with lies, EVERYTHING is true.