Following an effort to attract more military veteran supporters of marijuana legalization, the campaign behind a Florida ballot measure to legalize adult-use cannabis\u2014Amendment 3\u2014is beginning to feature more veterans in media outreach.<\/p>\n
Smart and Safe Florida, the organization backing the initiative, announced last month that it\u2019s working to form a coalition of veterans<\/a> to build voter support for the reform.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to raise awareness among voters about the importance of cannabis as a safer alternative to synthetic opioids for treating PTSD and related conditions among veterans,\u201d wrote the campaign, explaining that organizers are \u201clooking to engage with veterans across the state of Florida to support our cause.\u201d<\/p>\n One of those veterans, Feena Bonoan, spoke local media, telling Jacksonville-based WOKV that marijuana could benefit veterans with PTSD and chronic pain as well as reduce the use of opioids.<\/p>\n Bonoan, who developed an ovarian condition during her time in the Navy and has since retired, says marijuana helped ease pain related to the ailment.<\/p>\n Read our entire press release on our website here: https:\/\/t.co\/95OqQIQhnQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Smart & Safe Florida (@SmartandSafeFl) April 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n \u201cThere would be days where even when I was in school after I\u2019d completed my tours and got out of the military and I was on my GI Bill where I couldn\u2019t go to class because of the pain,\u201d she said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bonoan also spent some time working with the Hawaiian Veterans Cannabis Alliance, where she saw other veterans benefit from marijuana.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had one veteran that before medical marijuana he was on probably 20 different medications, including opioids.\u201d she said. \u201cAnd the VA, at that time, they were really open about giving you your pain meds. And he doesn\u2019t need them anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n The veteran described legalization as \u201ca path to prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n While Florida\u2019s existing medical marijuana law does allow patients access to cannabis if they have PTSD or chronic pain\u2014among a number of other qualifying conditions\u2014advocates say broader adult-use legalization would make it easier to obtain medicine.<\/p>\n Smart and Safe Florida did not make anyone from its veterans coalition available for an interview in response to numerous requests from Marijuana Moment, but in a statement sent on behalf of the campaign, veteran and Florida Rep. Lisa Dunkley (D) said she supports the proposed reform.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida voters have consistently expressed their support for safe and regulated adult use of cannabis, which will be on our Florida ballot in November,\u201d Dunkley said. \u201cAs a veteran of our armed services, I support Amendment 3 because it offers Floridians of 21 years and older the freedom to access cannabis products that offer a safe alternative to opioids and other treatment options for our veterans population.\u201d<\/p>\n The outreach\u2014and deployment\u2014of veterans in support of cannabis legalization comes as polls show signs of trouble for the proposed reform. The latest survey, published last month by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Mainstreet Research, found that a 47 percent plurality of voters backed the cannabis initiative<\/a>, compared to 35 percent opposed and 18 percent undecided.<\/p>\n Saluting our Veterans as they lead the charge for Amendment 3! Join the ‘Vets Vote #YesOn3<\/a>‘ coalition in advocating for safe, regulated cannabis access for adults. Together, we’re rewriting the narrative on effective alternatives for our heroes. #YesOn3<\/a> #VetsForCannabis<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/PceqgB6kDY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Smart & Safe Florida (@SmartandSafeFl) April 24, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n In order to pass on the ballot, the constitutional amendment needs 60 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n Another survey this month, from USA Today\/Ipsos, found that 56 percent of Florida registered voters back the cannabis proposal<\/a>\u2014still below the 60 percent threshold required for enactment under the state Constitution.<\/p>\n Both surveys came on the heels of the state Supreme Court officially clearing the initiative for the ballot<\/a> after rejecting a challenge from the state\u2019s attorney general.<\/p>\n There\u2019s been a mix of polling over the last year on the marijuana legalization initiative, with\u00a0certain surveys signaling that there is enough support for approval<\/a>. But it\u2019s not uncommon for support for ballot questions to decrease as Election Day approaches.<\/p>\n Despite the uncertainty, multiple marijuana companies are working to support the reform effort, donating a total of nearly $15 million to the campaign<\/a>, according to state filings that were released last month.<\/p>\n Trulieve, a multi-state operator and the main financial backer of the initiative, led the pack again with $9.225 million in donations during the first quarter. That follows the company previously contributing about $40 million as advocates worked to collect more than one million signatures to qualify for ballot placement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another Florida veteran, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), has predicted that voters will reject the marijuana initiative this November<\/a>. He\u2019s called the proposal \u201cradical\u201d and argued that it will \u201creduce the quality of life\u201d in the state.<\/p>\n The CEO of Trulieve, meanwhile, has argued legalization could actually \u201cimprove quality of life\u201d for Florida residents<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sky has not fallen\u201d with Florida\u2019s implementation of medical cannabis legalization under an earlier initiative, \u201cand folks see that choice is a good thing,\u201d Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said during an interview on The Dales Report\u2019s \u201cTrade To Black\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n DeSantis, for his part, said that enactment of the reform would mean \u201cthis state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and towns,\u201d which seems to be a particular concern for the governor, who has previously complained about the smell of cannabis in other jurisdictions<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will reduce the quality of life,\u201d he said, adding that Florida already has a medical cannabis program that his administration implemented following voter approval of the reform in 2016.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we really need to do more with that?\u201d he asked. \u201cDo we want to have more marijuana in our communities? I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll work out well, but it is a very, very broad amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n DeSantis has also attacked as \u201cnot good for families\u201d and \u201cnot good for [the] elderly.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n As drafted, the measure if approved would change the state Constitution to allow existing medical cannabis companies in the state like Trulieve to begin selling marijuana to all adults over 21. It contains a provision that would allow\u2014but not require\u2014lawmakers to take steps toward the approval of additional businesses. Home cultivation by consumers would not be allowed under the proposal as drafted.<\/p>\n Adults 21 and older would be able to purchase and possess up to three ounces of cannabis, only five grams of which could be marijuana concentrate products. The three-page measure also omits equity provisions favored by advocates such as expungements or other relief for people with prior cannabis convictions.<\/p>\n Separately, economic analysts from the Florida legislature and the the governor\u2019s office estimate that the marijuana legalization initiative would\u00a0generate between $195.6 million and $431.3 million<\/a>\u00a0in new sales tax revenue annually if voters enact it. And those figures could increase considerably if lawmakers opted to impose an additional excise tax on cannabis transactions that\u2019s similar to the ones in place in other legalized states.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what the Smart & Safe Florida marijuana legalization initiative would accomplish:<\/strong><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the full text of the ballot title and summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAllows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Florida Chamber of Commerce released a poll in January showing that a marijuana legalization initiative that may appear on the November ballot enjoys majority support from likely voters\u2014but not quite enough to meet the state\u2019s steep 60 percent threshold for passage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, there\u2019s significant interest in how\u00a0former President Donald Trump, a Florida resident, will vote on the cannabis initiative<\/a>, and whether he will publicly support or oppose it.<\/p>\n Also, a Florida bill that sought to\u00a0cap THC potency if voters approved the legalization initiative<\/a>\u00a0at the ballot died this session, much to the relief of cannabis advocates and stakeholders.<\/p>\n Legislation to\u00a0restrict consumable hemp products and ban delta-8 THC<\/a>\u00a0was approved by lawmakers and awaits DeSantis\u2019s action.<\/p>\n Separately, a House subcommittee advanced a medical marijuana bill that would waive patient registration and renewal fees<\/a>\u00a0for service-disabled military veterans.<\/p>\n Despite his opposition to the initiative, DeSantis, the former GOP presidential candidate who dropped out of the race in January, previously accurately\u00a0predicted that the state\u2019s highest court would ultimately allow the measure on November\u2019s ballot<\/a>.<\/p>\n Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) successfully petitioned justices to\u00a0prevent an earlier 2022 legalization initiative from receiving voter consideration<\/a>.<\/p>\n DeSantis also weighed in on another relevant cannabis policy issue earlier this year when, while still a presidential candidate, he said that\u00a0he doesn\u2019t believe the federal gun ban for state-legal marijuana consumers is constitutional<\/a>. Florida\u2019s former agriculture commission, Nikki Fried,\u00a0brought a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the rule<\/a>, though the governor did not get involved.<\/p>\n Prior to dropping out, DeSantis also said that if elected president, he would\u00a0\u201crespect the decisions that states make\u201d on marijuana legalization<\/a>\u00a0despite his personal view that the reform has a \u201cnegative impact.\u201d<\/p>\n Marijuana Rescheduling Would Not Bring State Markets \u2018Into Compliance\u2019 With Federal Law, Congressional Researchers Say<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n The post Florida Marijuana Legalization Campaign Activates New Veterans Coalition To Win Over Voters<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Following an effort to attract more military veteran supporters of marijuana legalization, the campaign behind a Florida ballot measure to legalize adult-use cannabis\u2014Amendment 3\u2014is beginning to feature more veterans in media outreach. Smart and Safe Florida, the organization backing the initiative, announced last month that it\u2019s working to form aContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74960"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74960"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74960\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74961,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74960\/revisions\/74961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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\nRead More: Florida Marijuana Legalization Campaign Activates New Veterans Coalition To Win Over Voters<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"