ORLANDO, FL—Governor Ron DeSantis dealt his latest blow to Florida's proposed recreational marijuana amendment Tuesday morning, claiming that if the amendment passes, it will become a "broader right" than freedom of speech.
To make matters worse, it will allow "40 to 80 joints" per person.
At least, that's what he's arguing.
"The right for...marijuana use is going to be a broader right than your First Amendment right to free speech, your Second Amendment right to keep and bear [arms]!" DeSantis said during an Orlando address to the Florida Sheriff's Association. He claimed that the amendment's "sanitized summary"—which Floridians will vote on come November—is misleading.
Why? Because, he says, it doesn't tell voters that it plans to "eliminate" current limitations in place for medical marijuana users. The Floridian previously reported some of DeSantis' fears over recreational marijuana coming to Florida, including the "horrible smell" and the ability to "bring 20 joints to an elementary school."
"It's ridiculous...This isn't going to be good. It's not going to be good for law and order, it's not going to be good for quality of life," he added.
The amendment in question is Florida's proposed Amendment 3; a ballot initiative granting adults 21 and over the ability to possess, purchase, or use up to three ounces of recreational marijuana (or "40 to 80 joints", DeSantis speculates). To become Florida law, at least 60 percent of voters must say "yes" to it on November 5th.
This would make the Sunshine State the 25th state to legalize the drug.
The proposed amendment passed the scrutiny of the Florida Supreme Court in early April—drawing the ire of Florida Republicans—and would allow the Legislature to enact various laws consistent with its text, such as putting recreational dispensaries in competition with existing medical ones, Florida Politics reported.
DeSantis plans to take on this amendment with his Freedom Fund political committee—which as of June 30th, had just over $120,000 in cash on end.
