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Former President Donald Trump announced his support for a Florida ballot measure to legalize marijuana for adults over 21.
In a social media post, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, said he would back state efforts to decriminalize and regulate marijuana and promote research into its medical uses if elected.
“As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” Trump said. “We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product. As a Floridian, I will be voting YES on Amendment 3 this November.”
Trump pledged to work with Congress on “common sense” marijuana laws, including safe banking for legal vendors. Marijuana legalization is widely supported in the U.S., with a 2024 Pew Research survey showing 57% favoring legal use for both medical and recreational purposes and only 11% opposing legalization entirely.
Trump supporting Amendment 3 in Florida is incredibly stupid.
Legalizing recreational marijuana would ruin Florida’s outdoor areas.
The beaches will stink. Almost every park will stink. It will be a tremendous negative for the state. pic.twitter.com/8Y7Qnazzwl
— Cryptid Politics (pro-DeSantis) 🇺🇸🐊 (@CryptidPolitics) September 9, 2024
Amendment 3, a bid for legalization, has split conservative lawmakers in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis, who lost the Republican presidential primary to Trump, opposes the measure. DeSantis recently told Florida churchgoers that Amendment 3 is an attempt to establish a “drug cartel” through the state constitution.
“Public use of this will be rampant,” DeSantis said. “You can’t point to a state that is better off for doing it.”
Polls indicate the legalization effort is headed for a strong win in Florida, with a recent Emerson poll showing 64% support and 27% opposition. Recreational marijuana is already legal in roughly two dozen US states.
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