DeSantis Worries Florida Will 'Smell Like Marijuana' If Ballot Initiative Passed

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—Governor Ron DeSantis is worried that if marijuana (pot) is legalized in Florida, the whole Sunshine State will smell like pot.

“It’s basically a license to have it anywhere you want. No time, place, and manner restrictions. This state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and towns, it will reduce the quality of life,” DeSantis said at a Thursday press conference in Fort Lauderdale.

The Florida Supreme Court voted Monday in a 5-2 decision to allow recreational marijuana on the November general election ballot. The measure—Amendment 3—would legalize recreational use for adults 21 and over and allow companies that already grow and sell medical marijuana to sell it to these adults.

60 percent of voters must vote "yes" on the measure to enshrine it in the state constitution.

DeSantis was a supporter of Florida's medical marijuana law—it was the first bill he signed into law as governor. He told reporters Thursday that Floridians now have access to medical marijuana, so why does more of the drug need to be available?

“I go to every part of Florida, not just South Florida, I see marijuana stores," he said. We have medical marijuana in this state that has been approved and I implemented it. Do we really need to do more with that? Do we want to have more marijuana in our communities? I don’t think it’ll work out well, but it is a very, very broad amendment."

He turned to Amendment 4, another ballot initiative that would protect abortion rights until fetal viability. "Once voters figure out how radical both of those are...they are going to fail," he said.