Trump Says He’ll Vote ‘Yes’ on Florida’s Marijuana Amendment

Former President Donald Trump announced he’ll vote for a ballot initiative that would change the Florida Constitution to legalize recreational marijuana use, a move opposed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“As a Floridian, I will be voting YES on Amendment 3 this November,” Trump said on TruthSocial on Sept. 8.

Florida’s “Amendment 3” expands Article X Section 29 of Florida’s Constitution—which currently permits the use, possession, and production of medical marijuana—to ensure that certain non-medical personal use of marijuana by an adult “is not subject to any criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law.”

Under the proposed changes, an adult 21 years of age or older will be able to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana for personal use, and no more than 5 grams can be in a concentrated form. Examples of concentrated marijuana forms include “dabs” and oils found in vape cartridges and edibles.

The change would allow medical marijuana treatment centers and other entities licensed by the state to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute” marijuana products for personal use.

Current Florida law treats the sale or possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana as a first degree misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. Medical marijuana treatment centers are restricted in what they can dispense to patients, both in quantity and within time limits.

Trump said in his TruthSocial post he believed that it was “time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults” caught with small amounts of recreational marijuana and called for “smart regulations while providing access for adults.”

He said his administration would “unlock” medical uses for marijuana and work with Congress to pass “common sense laws.” He voiced support for “safe banking for state-authorized companies” and the rights of states to pass their own marijuana laws.

DeSantis took a stand against the constitutional amendment at a June 25 press conference, saying it would “turn Florida into San Francisco of Chicago.”
“We got to keep our streets clean,” he said. “We cannot have every town smelling like marijuana… every hotel… theme parks.”

The governor criticized the amendment’s lack of limitations on the use and possession of smoking or possessing up to three ounces, which he said was enough to make 40 to 50 joints.

“So that means … you have it in the schools, they can’t punish you… restaurants [won’t] be able to do anything. The indoor smoking law in Florida does not apply to this.” he said.

“Once it’s the constitutional right, law enforcement is not going to want to get involved.”

While Trump previously said Florida voters would be in favor of legalizing the substance, he urged banning its use in public spaces “so we do not smell marijuana everywhere we go.”

Amendment 3 will appear on ballots in November after its sponsors collected more than 1 million signatures from across the state in favor of the changes. To pass, it will need a “yes” from 60 percent of the state’s voters.