Republican state Senator Joe Gruters endorsed a ballot measure to legalize adult-use marijuana in Florida, citing individual freedoms and public safety, despite opposition from Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida.

Senator Joe Gruters on Wednesday formally endorsed a ballot measure to legalize adult use marijuana in Florida, becoming one of the sole state Republicans to speak in support of the initiative.

Gruters, who chairs the Florida Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee, contended that legalizing recreational marijuana would advance individual freedoms and ensure public health and safety. He also noted his commitment to limiting government overreach and argued that legalizing marijuana aligns with these principles by extending personal liberties.

“Supporting Amendment 3 is a common-sense decision that prioritizes individual freedom, health, safety, and economic growth,” said Gruters, adding in a post to X that “Amendment 3 is about personal freedom; but it is also about creating a safer, more regulated recreational marijuana market and generating much-needed revenue for critical public services like our law enforcement.”

Morgan Hill, spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida, the organization advocating for Amendment 3, welcomed Gruters’ endorsement.

“We are honored to have Sen. Gruters’ support, yet another example of the expansive coalition behind legalizing recreational adult use marijuana,” said Hill. “Individual liberty is not a partisan issue, and we’re glad to have Sen. Gruters on board to help spread our message of personal freedom and a safer Florida for all.”

A University of North (UNF) Florida Public Opinion Research Lab poll issued on Tuesday gave Amendment 3, which would legalize adult personal use of marijuana, strong support, with 64 percent of likely voters in favor and 31 percent opposed. The amendment is particularly popular among Democrats (79 percent) and younger voters aged 18-24 (76 percent), though experts believe that poll numbers could start to shift as campaign activity ramps up.

“It’s not too clear yet how much money will be injected into the campaign against this amendment,” noted UNF Public Opinion Research Lab faculty director and professor of political science Dr. Michael Binder. “If the opposing organizations ramp up their campaigns, we may see this number come down, depending how much cash is spent in opposition.”

Amendment 3 requires 60 percent voter support in November to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.

The amendment has been heavily funded by Trulieve, with more than $55 million in contributions. If ratified, state economists estimate the initiative could generate between $195.6 million and $431.3 million in annual sales tax revenue. When revenue associated with new tourists drawn to the state by legalized marijuana is taken into account, state economists forecast an additional $43.6 million per year.

In a press conference held last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis cautioned that he believes the amendment goes beyond legalizing recreational marijuana and proposes eliminating all penalties, civil and criminal, for marijuana possession and use. The Governor went as far as claiming that everywhere that has legalized marijuana has been a “complete and utter failure.”

“If you actually read the text of what will go in the Constitution, it says you can have no penalties for possession or use, civil, criminal, anything for use or possession of marijuana,” the governor said. “Now the problem with that is the entire state will smell like marijuana if that passed … Colorado did this. It totally failed. California did it. It totally failed. Everywhere that’s done this has been a complete and utter failure.”

Upon outreach to the Executive Office of the Governor in June, The Capitolist was provided with a series of articles noting an increase of air pollution, increased motor vehicle deaths, and a prevalence of marijuana odor in public spaces, in support of the Governor’s claim.

The Republican Party of Florida took a formal stance against the legalization of recreational marijuana during the party’s Executive Board meeting in Orlando in May.