Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump announced his support for a Florida ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults, calling for laws to prohibit public use.
Trump, a Florida resident, revealed his stance on Amendment 3 in a post on Truth Social, highlighting the need for responsible legislation to regulate marijuana use in public spaces.
In his post, Trump emphasized the importance of the state legislature in creating laws to ensure the safe and appropriate implementation of Amendment 3, which would legalize personal amounts of marijuana for adults in Florida.
Amendment 3 would permit adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana and THC, with sales initially restricted to licensed medical marijuana companies.
While Trump did not explicitly state his voting intentions, his support for the legalization of recreational marijuana marks a significant shift in his stance on drug policy.
Trump’s endorsement of decriminalization puts him at odds with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who opposes Amendment 3 and has actively campaigned against it.
The campaign for Amendment 3 is funded by multi-state marijuana companies, aiming to secure a share of the recreational market in Florida.
The hemp industry in Florida, aligned with the state’s Republicans, has allied with DeSantis to prevent potential exclusion from the market if Amendment 3 passes.
The outcome of Amendment 3 remains uncertain, as constitutional amendments in Florida require a 60 percent supermajority for approval.
In 2016, Florida voters overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana, indicating a shifting attitude towards drug policy in the state.
