Trump, Harris on the campaign trail before debate
Days before their debate, Kamala Harris spent time at a spice shop while Donald Trump held rallies.
When it comes to the fight over legalizing recreational marijuana, it’s getting awkward for Florida’s most prominent Republicans. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state party are facing off against a formidable opponent – their own presidential nominee – as they seek to defeat a new proposal.
Former President Donald Trump came out unequivocally over the weekend in favor of Florida’s recreational pot ballot measure. It’s a huge boost to supporters of the constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 3.
“As a Floridian, I will be voting YES on Amendment 3 this November,” Trump wrote in a social media post Sunday evening.
Trump indicated last month that he supported Amendment 3, saying it’s passage is inevitable, but didn’t explicitly endorse the measure. His comments over the weekend left no doubt about his position.
The Republican Party of Florida announced in May that it would officially oppose Amendment 3 and another constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights. At the time, Florida GOP Chair Evan Power called the amendments part of a “radical agenda.”
DeSantis also has been a vocal opponent of the marijuana amendment. His chief of staff is serving on the board of the main group opposing the measure, which is ramping up it’s advertising in the Sunshine State.
Now amendment opponents must contend with their own party leader.
“I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” Trump said in his statement.
Trump added that if he wins a second term he would support research “to unlock the medical uses of marijuana,” work with Congress on open the banking system to marijuana companies and back “states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens.”
Amendment 3 would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana, or up to 5 grams in concentrated form.
Polls consistently have shown that most Florida voters support Amendment 3. It needs 60% approval to pass.
A Fox News survey in July had the amendment at 66% support, and a University of North Florida poll the same month showed 64% of voters in favor. But with organized opposition ramping up a PPP poll last month had it at 57%.
Trump’s backing could help push the amendment above the 60% threshold.
The former president’s position shows how the marijuana issue is dividing the GOP as the party contends with a popular proposal. Many Republicans have long opposed loosening drug laws, but Trump at times has bucked party orthodoxy as he runs on a populist message and seeks to appeal to voters outside the GOP base.
A similar dynamic has played out over abortion access in Florida, but Trump has found that more difficult to navigate.
Another Florida ballot measure – Amendment 4 – would protect abortion rights. The amendment would overturn the state’s ban on abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, which was pushed by DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Legislature.
Trump repeatedly has criticized the six-week abortion ban and suggested last month that he might support Amendment 4. When pressed on his position on the amendment, Trump said: “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks.”
That prompted a backlash from anti-abortion activists, and Trump quickly came out against Amendment 4.
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Publish date : 2024-09-09 05:15:00
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