Former President Donald Trump expressed support for Florida’s Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana, though noted a need for regulation of public use.
Former President Donald Trump on Saturday voiced his support for Florida’s Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana use for adults.
The measure, set for a vote in the upcoming November election, would permit individuals over 21 to purchase and possess marijuana without requiring a medical card. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his belief that marijuana legalization in Florida is inevitable, asserting that “whether people like it or not,” personal amounts of marijuana will be legalized, also voicing his support for decriminalization, arguing that criminalization wastes taxpayer money and unnecessarily harms those caught with small amounts of the drug.
However, Trump stopped short of fully endorsing the measure and called for responsible regulation, particularly concerning public use. He urged Florida lawmakers to establish laws that would prohibit the use of marijuana in public spaces, citing concerns about the smell of marijuana in public areas.
“Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the Voters, so it should be done correctly,” Trump said. “We need the State Legislature to responsibly create laws that prohibit the use of it in public spaces, so we do not smell marijuana everywhere we go, like we do in many of the Democrat run Cities. We do not need to ruin lives and waste taxpayer dollars arresting adults with personal amounts of it on them.”
Last month, Sen. Joe Gruters formally endorsed Amendment 3, becoming one of the few state Republicans to speak in support of the initiative. He subsequently announced proposed legislation that would ban smoking in public spaces statewide, contingent on the voter approval of legalizing recreational marijuana in November.
The bill, positioned as a companion to the recreational marijuana initiative, seeks to regulate the location and manner of smoking in all forms to “ensure public health and safety,” according to Gruters. He stated during a press event that the legislation is designed to prevent Florida from experiencing the same public smoking issues that he says are “seen in cities like Las Vegas and New York City.”
“I think we can make it safer. I think it’s time to decriminalize, and I think we can control the time, place, and manner,” Gruters said. “People don’t want to go outside and smell it. They don’t want to see it in public places.”
The proposed ban would apply to all public spaces, including streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, and common areas of buildings. It would cover smoking tobacco, cigars, vaping, and marijuana products. Gruters explained that the legislation would allow the state to “control where and when” smoking occurs.
The ballot initiative, supported by Smart & Safe Florida, is heavily funded by cannabis retailer Trulieve, which has contributed more than $70 million to the effort. If passed, state economists estimate the measure could generate between $195.6 million and $431.3 million in annual sales tax revenue. Additionally, revenue from new tourists drawn to the state by legalized marijuana is projected to add another $43.6 million per year.
In May, the Republican Party of Florida formally opposed the legalization of recreational marijuana during its Executive Board meeting. Gov. Ron DeSantis also expressed opposition to the measure, warning that the amendment goes beyond merely legalizing recreational marijuana. He argues that it would eliminate all penalties—civil and criminal—for marijuana possession and use, and contends that states where marijuana has been legalized have faced negative consequences.
“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.”
A poll released last Thursday showed that 64 percent of likely voters favor Amendment 3. In contrast, 27 percent oppose the measure and 12 percent remain undecided. Support is particularly strong among Democrats, with 74 percent in favor, compared to 54 percent of Republicans and 61 percent of Independents. The measure requires 60 percent voter support to pass.