Associated Press
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida says he’ll be voting in November against a ballot amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in his state, a deeply personal decision based on his brother’s long history of addiction.
The Senator and former Florida Governor said he watched his brother Roger Scott begin smoking marijuana as a teenager and then struggle with substance use for the rest of life.
“People end up with addictive personalities, and so he did,” Scott said in an interview. “It messes up your life, and so that’s why I’ve never supported legalization of drugs.”
When Roger Scott died in April at 67, the cause wasn’t substance abuse, but rather “a life of drugs and alcohol” catching up with him, the Senator said. He had lived in an apartment in Dallas, Texas, where he served jail time in 1990 on a misdemeanor conviction of possessing dangerous drugs, court records show.
Rick Scott became wealthy as a lawyer and health care industry executive before entering politics. Now running for reelection, he lamented that his brother had a “tough life” and says it all began with marijuana.
Florida’s voter initiative would legalize recreational marijuana use if the amendment receives 60% or more yes votes this November. That would also obligate the Florida Legislature to establish regulations and a framework for production and sales. Florida is among 38 states that have legalized medical marijuana, and would join 24 others that have legalized recreational use.
Scott opposes this change alongside Florida’s Republican Party, which formally announced its opposition in early May. They contend the amendment would “benefit powerful marijuana special interests, while putting children at risk and endangering Florida’s family-friendly business and tourism climates.”
The amendment’s sponsor, Smart & Safe Florida, said on its website that approval would enable Floridians to have “accountability, transparency, and regulations” in place. Among other benefits, this could ensure legal cannabis won’t be laced with unknown and potentially dangerous chemicals, it said.
Voters approved medical marijuana when Scott was Governor, but Scott and the Legislature placed tight restrictions on its use, including banning smokable marijuana. Cannabis advocates then sued and a court agreed to allow smokable medical marijuana just before Scott left office. His successor, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, chose not to appeal.
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
14 comments
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Brian Kelly
June 8, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Legalize federally now. What’s legal to possess and consume in over half of the populated areas of The United States should not make you a criminal in states still being governed by woefully ignorant prohibitionist politicians.
Cannabis consumers in all states deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All-American pastime, alcohol.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now!
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.
ScienceBLVR
June 8, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Don’t Bogart that joint, my friend, pass it over to me again. War on drugs was an utter and complete failure, costing billions, incarcerating thousands, breaking up families.
The addictive experience, is always alive and well and in theory, many folks are more susceptible than others. First bad drug I remember was heroin, then coke, then crack, then meth, then opioids.. the drug of addictive choice changes ann evolves as time goes on. But addicts are always there. Get them help and don’t be blaming that on pot! Besides, I’m elderly and need the stress and pain relief marijuana offers, not worried about reefer madness kicking in..
Tjb
June 8, 2024 at 3:01 pm
I am backing Scott on this issue. I prefer to buy illegal weed on the street laced with fentanyl.
rick whitaker
June 8, 2024 at 7:28 pm
scott is trying to force floridians to go out of state to get good pot. how dare him. he’s rich and can buy his hash in the kashmir, but we can’t. alcohol is way more dangerous than pot ever has been. scott is an ahole and i think this issue is one more reason not to vote for him. florida has real shitty pot anyway, but that’s not the point.
Richard D
June 8, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Rick Scott indicates that his brother had addiction problems related to using marijuana and served a prison sentence, apparently due to marijuana use. Scott implies that marijuana is a “gateway” drug, so he disagrees with its legalization. It’s likely that his brother’s time in prison and his criminal record are what ruined his life by turning him into a social outcast. Since he died at 67, he was a youth during the years when psychiatric medications, such as Ritalin and Concerta, were beginning to be heavily used on America’s youth by the medical-industrial complex. These psychoactive pharma drugs are the real “gateway” drugs, especially to cocaine.
The truth and nothing but the truth.
June 9, 2024 at 1:57 am
Knowledge is power. As a former federal pharmacy healthcare worker and certified pharmacy technician with over 20 + years of experience and continuing education. I stand with Senator Rick Scott. Academic journals, life experiences, and statistics don’t lie. I’ve seen and am currently living through the vicious and unrelenting cycle of addiction that continuously affects family and former friends. It all started years ago with weed/cannabis. Keep on keeping on, sir! I salute you and offer my sincere condolences to you and your family with your brother passing away.
rick whitaker
June 9, 2024 at 8:25 pm
THE TRUTH, do you actually believe your lies about pot being a gateway drug. tell that crap to ignorant fearful people that will believe it. alcohol is the main gateway drug. why do liars always mention the truth?
Tjb
June 10, 2024 at 10:23 am
My drug addition started with an innocuous substance called milk. Did you know that close to 100% of addicts used milk at one time. It was peer pressure but milk causing the addiction, we need to stop the cow cartel from poisoning our children.
Michael K
June 9, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Legal weed does not support Rick Scott.
I’ve known several friends and family members who drank themselves to death with alcohol addiction. I am not aware of anyone dying from pot.
rick whitaker
June 9, 2024 at 8:28 pm
they call alabama the crimson tide, they call me deacon blue.
Dont Say FLA
June 10, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Why don’t Scott and Rubio go get jobs as Mannies? That is clearly the job they want, not Senator. Manny Scott and Manny Rubio.
Oh, yeah, I suppose nobody in their right mind would leave their kid(s) with either of these two. They are stuck with their Senator jobs I reckon.
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