Gray Rohrer
The main group looking to pass a ballot measure legalizing marijuana for recreational use is gathering a coalition of veterans to support the amendment.
Smart & Safe Florida, whose political committee is backed mostly by Trulieve, a Tallahassee-based medical marijuana company, backed the effort to put the measure on the ballot as Amendment 3. Now, the organization is trying to shore up support among voters to get over the 60% threshold needed in November to legalize recreational pot.
“Many of our brave veterans across the country and here in Florida have been strong advocates for the freedom to access a legal, regulated cannabis market,” reads a statement from Smart & Safe Florida.
“The ‘Vets Vote #YesOn3’ coalition will work throughout Florida to educate, advocate, and turn out voters to support Amendment 3 on the November ballot, focusing on the significance of cannabis as a safe and effective alternative to synthetic opioids, which are commonly prescribed to treat PTSD and other conditions.”
According to the group, the coalition includes more than 600 Florida veterans.
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.
If 60% of voters approve the measure, it would take effect six months after the November election.
Trulieve put more than $40 million behind the effort to get Amendment 3 on the ballot, and was joined by Curaleaf, Verano Holdings, Greenthumb Industries, Ayr Wellness Inc. and Cresco Labs to give $14.9 million in the first three months of the year.
Smart & Safe Florida stated that the coalition is the first of many to come.
A poll released by Florida Atlantic University last week showed 47% of voters support the measure. The age group with the lowest level of support were those over 65, with just 36%.
10 comments
Monday news
April 23, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Low support because all end up on the churches doors
Richard D
April 23, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Any de-criminalization of marijuana would hurt the criminal justice system’s reason for existing, and the amount of funding it receives. In the prison system, for example, more than half the inmates are there as a consequence of drug law violations. Drug busts by the police are major news items nearly every day, a reliable indication that the police and their funding are dependent to a significant extent on drug laws. Prescription opioids will remain the preferred method of pain relief because they’re very profitable and because their iatrogenic side effects stimulate the need for other pharma drugs to treat the additional problems.
Rick Whitaker
April 28, 2024 at 9:01 pm
RICHARDD, you don’t know jack on this subject dude.
Steve Moilanen
April 23, 2024 at 5:20 pm
There’s no home growing in this bill I will be voting no on this one just because no home growing
Rick Whitaker
April 28, 2024 at 9:00 pm
STEVE, are you that cheap? pot is illegal in tennessee, but i smell it burning everywhere. home growing is too much work, let the pros do it for you. ever since the late 60’s florida is known for bad pot.
Kathryn kozachyn
April 23, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Yes on 3!
Debbie
April 23, 2024 at 11:03 pm
1.Yes on 3
2.Yes on legalizing
3.No on opoids
Brent
April 28, 2024 at 1:41 pm
I’ll be voting Joe Biden again in November, but I am voting NO on legalized pot in Florida. I am also a veteran, a registered Democrat, and LGBTQ+.
Hung Wiil
April 29, 2024 at 10:59 am
Lucky you.
Rick Whitaker
April 28, 2024 at 8:56 pm
BRENT, don’t you know that to continue this sham about pot being bad is hurting a lot of people. kids get alcohol cheaper and easier, so just let them drink instead of smoke. that is a true statement, and it is a bad thing. i was in the veteran’s hospital in 1972. i saw lots of dying alcoholics but no dying potheads. if you want suffering, then don’t vote for pot.