PENSACOLA, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis stopped in Pensacola Friday morning to speak out against Amendment 3.
If passed, the amendment on this year’s ballot would allow people over 21 to legally use recreational marijuana.
But the governor says there is more to this amendment than what voters see on the ballot. He believes it has very little to do with expanding freedom to consume marijuana, and more about putting money in pockets of big companies.
“What they do is create in the constitution a big weed cartel where these companies have privileges where you wouldn’t be able to grow your own, you would have to buy it from them,” DeSantis said from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. “So these rights are basically about a right to engage in commercial transactions with these companies who sponsor the amendment.”
DeSantis says he has many issues with the language of the amendment, which includes misinformation on where and when Floridians have access to marijuana.
“This has no limitation on public use,” he said. “It would impact the culture of the state, the quality of life on the state. It will impact tourism 100%. So this is far from being about freedom, it really undermines freedom.”
“Go into it eyes wide open,” Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said. “If you haven’t read this, how can you do a ‘yes’ vote if you haven’t read the constitutional text?”
Dr. Ladapo doubled down on the governor’s claims that Amendment 3 will only hurt the citizens of Florida.
“It is truly grotesque,” he said. “You’re going to wave a freedom flag because we all love freedom, but really it’s enslavement. And it’s going to be a one-sided relationship, because if you have any problems, you’re on your own.”
While Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons acknowledged he’s not been outspoken against Amendment 3, on Friday he said Escambia County’s drug crisis will only get worse if the amendment passes.
“Our community will not be better,” he said. “Now I haven’t gotten out and said I’m against this or held up any signs. But I can tell you what I see. I see this and when I’m asked the question if I’m in support, based on what I know, see and hear, the answer is an absolute no.”
H/T: weartv.com
