State Senator Joe Gruters (R-FL) – a supporter of Amendment 3 which would legalize marijuana in the State of Florida – has introduced a bill that would ban the smoking of weed in public places. This legislation is drawing disapproval from the Vote No on 3 Campaign which argues his bill would be ineffective.
“Gruters’ move was a stunning admission that Amendment 3 is legally flawed and that the only way to stop unlimited smoking in public if it is approved by the voters in November is for the legislature to pass a bill cleaning up Amendment 3’s mess,” wrote the campaign against recreational marijuana in a press release. “But legislators know that’s not going to be possible, because they can’t fix with legislation what the Constitutional Amendment purposely left out. They can’t fix it - don’t be fooled.”
The campaign continued by attempting to frame Gruters as a hypocrite for wanting to produce legislation for something that’s about to be voted on through popular sovereignty.
“It’s ironic that the same people who support legalizing recreational marijuana through constitutional amendment instead of trusting the legislature to do so are now changing their tune and claiming that only the legislature can fix the problem that their amendment creates,” the Vote No on 3 Campaign stated.
Furthermore, the campaign claims the amendment that specifically medical marijuana will not receive accommodation for on-site use in any public place, and that it doesn’t address all forms of marijuana on purpose.
“What’s all the more damning for the marijuana companies is that throughout the amendment they cross through and delete the word “medical” and delete sections relevant to medical but not personal use of marijuana but chose not to on the issue of smoking in public. Again, they should be asked why. We know why they did it and the reason is insidious and self-serving, but that’s a fact our campaign is saving for later,” the campaign said.
Floridians will be able to decide for themselves on Nov. 5 when the amendment appears on their ballot.
