Jacob Ogles
A Florida lawmaker in line to be House Speaker is explaining why he’s voting against legalizing recreational marijuana in November.
Rep. Sam Garrison sent a detailed email to media laying out his opposition to Amendment 3. The Fleming Island Republican said that even voters who want cannabis decriminalized should be concerned about cuffing the Legislature’s policymaking ability with an amendment to the Florida Constitution.
“Policymaking by constitutional referendum is no way to run a railroad, especially in America’s third largest state. (Remember 2002’s pregnant pigs amendment?) This is especially true in an area like marijuana where our state has made a concerted effort to strike the right balance between personal liberty and community standards,” Garrison said.
“Regardless of where you stand on marijuana policy, and I have friends on all sides of this issue, the place to debate it is in Tallahassee at the Capitol where the public can see and hear what we say and do.”
He noted that those Floridians with legitimate need for cannabis access already have it through Florida’s medical marijuana program. Garrison currently chairs the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, offering insight into the state program’s operations.
“Whether or not you support the concept of recreational marijuana, the truth is today, Floridians who need medical marijuana can access it safely and with little to no bureaucratic hurdles,” Garrison wrote.
“The focus of Governor (Ron) DeSantis and the Florida legislature over the last decade has been on alleviating suffering. This is something an overwhelming percentage of our fellow citizens, left, right and center, all agree on. Amendment 3 is something else altogether.”
Of note, medical marijuana was legalized in Florida following the passage of a constitutional amendment in 2016, not by lawmakers approving it.
Garrison made clear that Florida’s economy doesn’t need marijuana and suggested it could ruin the state’s reputation.
“We’re not California. We’re not Colorado. And we are certainly not New York,” he wrote. “Florida’s great pro-family, pro-business, and tourism-rich successes bring with them an equally great responsibility to preserve them for successive generations. The ‘recreation’ we as a state should be promoting are our beaches, our springs, our weather, and our unique environment. Not marijuana.”
Garrison will become House Speaker after the 2028 election if Republicans maintain control of the chamber.
9 comments
Joe
October 4, 2024 at 5:02 pm
“I’ve never taken drugs and look at me — I’m totally fine!”
Ron Ogden
October 5, 2024 at 5:35 am
Plain truth plainly stated.
Communities–states, nations, whatever–thrive because productive effort earns rewards, and these rewards, properly conserved, accumulate into real wealth. But there are few things in everyday life that are as unproductive as sitting around toking or, if you insist on making silly comparisons, drinking. The only ones who are going to thrive from this Amendment are Trulieve and its minor league competitors, and they are going to get vastly wealthy on the addiction of a vast mass of sad sack users.
MHDuuuval
October 5, 2024 at 10:01 am
Pharisee: “Toking bad, imbibing good.”
Cheesy Floridian
October 5, 2024 at 11:06 am
I see you believe the lies DeSantis and the GOP like to say. Vote yes on 3 for freedom
Cheesy Floridian
October 5, 2024 at 11:04 am
We have the opportunity to turn something that is currently illegal without paying for a medical card and having to pay renewal fees yearly into something that is legal for everyone over the age of 21. And if you have visited the states where it is legal you see with your own eyes that what they are saying will happen in Florida is not true. This will be a positive change to Florida. Vote yes on 3
Brad
October 5, 2024 at 3:44 pm
The truth is it doesn’t matter what the constitution says. They will do whatever they want and the Florida Supreme Court will let them get away with it. Look at what they did with medical marijuana. It was designed to be an open system and they turned into a pay to play scam.and Desantis and the Legislature has protected the cartels interests for years.
Cindy
October 5, 2024 at 8:30 pm
No weed will not make you cough a lot it is harsh for the esophagus.
Dont Say FLA
October 9, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Use edibles or, if you must smoke, use a water bong or vape like any person who hasn’t had their head filled with the directives of anti-liberty influencers
ECONOMICS 101 PROFESSOR "E"
October 11, 2024 at 8:24 am
Good morn ‘ting Florida,
As your Economics Professor, I, ECONOMICS 101 PROFESSOR “E”, just want you all to know exactly how the “ECONOMIC LAWS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR” will apply if Florida’s voters Foolishly approve Admendment 3.
Prof. “E” Begins todays Lecture ….. SO PAY ATTENTION CLASS:
Florida, if Admn. 3 is approved, the street weed dealers will just jack up (or down) their prices to be 25% lower than Florida’s “LEGAL WEED PROVIDERS PRICE”.
Thus our citizens we are trying to “PROTECT” will not be able to afford Florida’s Legal Recerational Weed and will continue buying “STREET WEED”.
“Class I hope you took good notes because everything in today’s lecture will be on your final exam.”
CLASS DISMESSED HAVE A NICE WEEKEND,
ECONOMICS 101 PROFESSOR “E”
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