Gov. DeSantis Opposes Recreational Marijuana Legalization Despite Strong Voter Support

Between now and November, Florida voters will face a deluge of messages about Modification 3, which proposes legalizing leisure marijuana for these 21 and older. Despite Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s opposition, the most recent Fox Information ballot exhibits that 66% of Florida voters intend to vote “yes” on the modification.

Governor DeSantis, talking out towards the measure, stated, “The weed one (proposed Constitutional Amendment) is not just decriminalizing it. It’s basically a license to have it wherever you want.” He’s actively combating each Modification 3 and Modification 4, which seeks to enshrine abortion rights within the state structure. To help his efforts, a brand new political committee, Florida Freedom Fund, was arrange on Might twenty fourth by his Chief of Workers, James Uthmeier. Whereas the committee hasn’t reported any marketing campaign contributions but, its goal is obvious.

WESH 2 Information reached out to the Florida Division of Elections for extra particulars on the committee’s particular targets, promising updates as they change into out there. DeSantis warned, “The State will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and towns. It will reduce the quality of life.”

On the flip aspect, Modification 3 enjoys sturdy help from many Democratic lawmakers and a few Republicans. The committee backing the modification, Sensible and Secure Florida, has raised over $60 million for a statewide TV and digital advert marketing campaign. Most of this funding has come from Trulieve, Florida’s largest medical marijuana dispensary, with contributions from a number of different hashish corporations.

“We have seen reputable polling showing us well above that 60% threshold and that this is what Floridians want,” stated Morgan Hill of Sensible and Secure Florida. She emphasised the marketing campaign’s deal with the financial advantages of legalizing leisure marijuana, security, and transparency. Hill acknowledged, “The importance of safety and transparency, and the incredible economic benefits we are going to see from Amendment 3, I think that’s really the kind of campaign we’re going to run.”

Sensible and Secure Florida estimates that Modification 3 might generate $493 million yearly in gross sales tax revenues. Nevertheless, the Florida Monetary Impression Estimating Convention tasks a extra conservative vary