Florida voters could legalize adult marijuana use this November, known as Amendment 3.
The proposed amendment would allow adults to possess up to three ounces of Marijuana legally. Additionally, it would authorize existing medical marijuana dispensaries to expand their operations to sell Marijuana to adults for personal use.
Sebastian Daily conducted a poll among its newsletter subscribers to gauge support for Amendment 3. The poll question received responses from nearly 12,000 individuals.
Here are the results:
- Yes – 62%
- No – 33%
- Undecided 5%
Although the poll indicates a preference for marijuana legalization, the comments we’ve received from our newsletter subscribers have been exclusively against the measure, citing various reasons.
Thomas Clark, a resident of Vero Beach, expressed to Sebastian Daily that he had no objections to recreational Marijuana until a few months ago.
“Events in the past few months have changed me to vote against it in Florida. I live in a two-story multi-unit complex condominium, and the unit above us was rented approximately eight months ago to a couple that continually smoked medical Marijuana all hours of the day,” he said.
Clark described how the strong odor of marijuana smoke from his neighbor’s unit, whether they were smoking outside or inside with their windows open, prevented him from opening his windows for fresh air. He mentioned investing over $400 in house air purifiers and sprays to mitigate the smell.
“I can only imagine how bad the smell across our state and homes will be if recreational Marijuana is approved,” Clark said.
John Schmidbauer of Grant Valkaria said he doesn’t push his bad habits on other people, therefore he does not want recreational weed legalized.
“If it is legalized, then I want to see a total ban on all public smoking,” he said.
Tom Cipielewski of Sebastian said he’ll be voting “no” on Amendment 3.
“We left California in part due to the lawlessness we experienced in Trinity County from black market growers, users, transients & cartel growers,” he told Sebastian Daily.
Wendy Chiarella from Vero Beach is “extremely against” the use of recreational Marijuana in Florida because of traffic offenses and fatalities in other legal states.
She referenced an article in The Denver Post that detailed a study examining the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Colorado who tested positive for Marijuana. The article highlighted a significant increase in these cases each year since 2013.
Two of Florida’s largest and most influential law enforcement organizations have expressed their opposition to the proposed marijuana legalization measure, asserting that it will result in an increase in traffic fatalities.
The Florida Highway Patrol has proactively addressed the issue of marijuana-impaired driving through its “Drive Baked, Get Busted” campaign. In response to the state’s legalization of medical Marijuana in 2018, the agency launched a public awareness campaign featuring billboards, posters, and video advertisements.
Supporters of Amendment 3 assert that the research conducted in other states that have legalized cannabis is not conclusive. They contend that by adopting a regulatory framework similar to that governing alcohol, Florida can enhance the safety of its citizens.
Many DUI attorneys contend that while marijuana breathalyzers are currently under development, no reliable device is widely available. They point out that Florida and many other states lack a standardized limit for Marijuana’s active ingredient in the blood, making it challenging to establish a clear threshold for prosecution, unlike the case with alcohol.
Additionally, Marijuana can remain in the system for weeks, complicating the process of determining whether someone was driving under the influence.
Terry McGinn from Sebastian said he has mixed emotions about legalizing Marijuana.
“Those who smoke now will still use it. Those who do not will probably continue to not use it. As I read about traffic deaths, headings, and other accidents where innocent victims join those at fault, I think, ‘Why should we add to this?'” he said.
The initiative is being sponsored by Smart and Safe Florida, with Trulieve, a prominent marijuana dispensary company operating medical marijuana dispensaries in Florida, serving as the primary contributor.
They highlight that in 2020, when the state experienced a significant job loss of over 400,000 positions, the Florida cannabis industry added 15,000 employees.
The organization says legalization of adult-use cannabis would institute accountability, transparency, and regulatory measures to safeguard consumers from products that may be contaminated with or contain potentially lethal chemicals.
Smart and Safe Florida claims that legalization in other states has led to a decline in gang violence and harmed Mexican cartels. They also cite a recent study suggesting that recreational marijuana legalization is associated with a decrease of 56.6 reported incidents of intimate partner violence per 100,000 people.
“This decrease is attributed to the substitution of Marijuana for alcohol, which has a stronger association with IPV. By reducing alcohol consumption, marijuana legalization indirectly lowers the incidence of IPV, providing a public health benefit that underscores the positive societal impact of legalization,” the organization said.
Regarding the concern that legalization may lead to an increase in traffic accidents and fatalities, Smart and Safe Florida says, “While Marijuana can impair driving abilities, the claim that legalization leads to significantly more impaired driving fatalities is not supported by evidence. Proper education, enforcement of impaired driving laws, and investment in public safety measures can mitigate any potential increase in marijuana-related traffic accidents.”
The bottom line is that it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of any substance, whether it be Marijuana or alcohol.
Many individuals who consume recreational Marijuana do so to alleviate pain or address depression. Those who seek alternatives to potentially addictive pain medications often opt for marijuana use, believing it to be a safer option.
The amendment requires at least 60% approval from Florida voters in the November 5 election to legalize recreational Marijuana. Several polls, including one from Sebastian Daily, indicate that Amendment 3 is likely to surpass this threshold, although a poll from Florida Atlantic University shows it falling just short with 56% support.