Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has urged voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older. DeSantis claims that the amendment, known as Amendment 3, would primarily benefit one large marijuana company, Trulieve, and not the people of Florida.
During a panel discussion at the Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, DeSantis argued that the amendment is designed to benefit Trulieve, which is publicly traded on the Canadian Stock Exchange. He stated that the company’s CEO has a fiduciary duty to maximize value for shareholders, and therefore, the amendment is intended to benefit the company, not the state or its residents.
DeSantis also expressed concerns about the lack of provisions in the amendment allowing individuals to grow their own cannabis, known as “home grow” or home cultivation. He noted that courts have struck down attempts to legalize such procedures in Florida.
Furthermore, DeSantis criticized the amendment’s liability provisions, stating that they would provide blanket immunity to marijuana companies, shielding them from accountability and liability. He argued that this would be a “grotesque attempt to shield this one company and this one industry from any accountability or any type of liability.”
Smart & Safe Florida, the advocacy group behind Amendment 3, has countered DeSantis’ claims, stating that the proposal does nothing more than apply the same state-law liability provisions now in place for medical marijuana to adult use. The group maintains that the provisions of Section 4 are designed to allow the use, cultivation, and sale of marijuana for adult use, and that they do not provide immunity for other ancillary conduct.
DeSantis also raised concerns about the potential impact of legalizing recreational cannabis on tourism in Florida, stating that it could lead to a decline in visitors. However, there is no indication that anyone legally would be smoking cannabis on state beaches.
The governor’s comments come as Floridians are actively voting on the proposed constitutional amendment. According to recent polls, Amendment 3 is receiving strong support, with 60% of voters in favor of the measure. If the amendment passes, it would need to receive at least 60% of the vote to become law.
