Florida Voters Face Six Constitutional Amendments on November 5 Ballot
With less than two weeks until the election, Florida voters will be faced with six constitutional amendments on the November 5 ballot. Each amendment requires at least 60% of the vote to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution. To help voters make an informed decision, this article will break down Amendment 3, the recreational marijuana amendment, and provide recommendations from six Florida newspapers.
Amendment 3, also known as the recreational marijuana amendment, would allow adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and accessories for non-medical personal consumption. The amendment would also allow Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and other state-licensed entities to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute these products and accessories.
The TCPalm Editorial Board has no recommendation on how to vote on Amendment 3, citing that the issue is too complex and focused on more local issues. However, four other newspapers have made recommendations.
The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board recommends a Yes vote on Amendment 3, stating that legalizing recreational marijuana would be a start for the state to address the ongoing health and legal issues surrounding cannabis.
The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board also recommends a Yes vote, stating that the current way Florida handles low-level marijuana possession is ineffective, destructive, and racially biased. They believe that legalizing recreational marijuana would allow police to direct their resources to combat more serious crimes.
The Miami Herald Editorial Board recommends a Yes vote, stating that the war on drugs has failed and that legalizing recreational marijuana would allow the state to focus on combating more dangerous drugs.
The Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards combined their recommendations, stating that allowing personal use of marijuana makes sense for Florida and that the good outweighs the bad in Amendment 3.
Early voting runs through Sunday, November 3, with times and days varying by county. Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
