Ron DeSantis Criticizes Florida’s Cannabis Legalization Ballot at RNC
MILWAUKEE, WIS. – At the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis vehemently opposed Florida’s upcoming vote to legalize recreational marijuana. He warned that the proposed legalization could have far-reaching implications, surpassing constitutional guarantees such as free speech and gun ownership.
Speaking to his fellow Republicans, DeSantis painted a dramatic picture of what he believes will happen if the cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, passes. “It gives you a limitless constitutional right to possess and smoke. I think it’s up to like, what, 40 joints, is that the three ounces would be 40? More than that, 80 joints. Something like that,” he said.
DeSantis expressed concern that marijuana rights could overshadow those provided by the First and Second Amendments. He argued that the language of Amendment 3 would allow individuals to possess three ounces of marijuana flower or five grams of concentrate, translating to roughly 27 joints per ounce based on his calculations.
“I think you’re going to see people, you will be able to bring 20 joints to an elementary school. Is that really going to be good for the state of Florida? I don’t think so,” DeSantis said in a previous statement in June.
The governor’s criticism extended to the potential impact on public spaces and private businesses. He envisioned a scenario where public weed consumption would be difficult to regulate, affecting places like downtown areas and restaurants. “You are going to see this. And law enforcement’s not going to want to police it at all,” he asserted.
DeSantis shared anecdotes from restaurant owners concerned about marijuana use in their establishments. He questioned whether they could enforce bans given the broad language of the amendment. “I’ve had some restaurant guys [say], ‘Well, I won’t let them use it in my restaurant,’” DeSantis said. “Well, I’m not sure you’re going to be able to do that, given how broad it is.”
He also reiterated his long-standing grievance with the smell of marijuana. “You go to places like Denver. It smells like marijuana,” he told the crowd. “It’s not been good for quality of life. So that’s just the reality. We’ve seen it in practice in a lot of places. It hasn’t delivered what they said it would deliver.”
DeSantis linked the marijuana legalization initiative to another contentious measure, Amendment 2, which aims to expand abortion access. He called on Florida Republicans to oppose both amendments to uphold conservative values.
As the debate over cannabis legalization continues, DeSantis’s strong stance reflects the broader concerns among conservative leaders about the potential social and legal impacts of such measures. The outcome of the vote on Amendment 3 will likely have significant implications for the state of Florida.
