DeSantis Furious As Legal Weed, Abortion Rights Move Toward November Ballot, Calls Amendments 'Radical,' 'Confusing' For Voters

Zinger Key Points
  • Florida Supreme Court decision says two state constitutional amendments — legal cannabis and abortion access — can be placed on the ballot.
  • Calling into question Floridians ability to read, Gov. Ron DeSantis said amendments were too confusing.
Calling into question Floridians ability to read, Gov. Ron DeSantis said voters have developed a skepticism for "these amendments generally because they're always written in ways that are confusing," he said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been in a snit since Monday's Supreme Court decision that two state constitutional amendments — legal cannabis and abortion access — can be placed on the ballot for all to decide upon.

"Once voters figure out how radical both of those are, they're going to fail," DeSantis said at a press event on Thursday. "They are very, very extreme." DeSantis predicted that when they come up for a vote in the November 2024 election, they will not garner the 60% voter threshold required to become law.

Besides, Amendments Are ‘Confusing'

Calling into question Floridians ability to read, DeSantis said voters have developed a skepticism for "these amendments generally because they're always written in ways that are confusing," he said. "You don't necessarily know what the intent's going to be. So I think there's a certain segment of voters, they default. Just vote ‘no' on these things."

It is worth noting DeSantis appointed five of the seven Supreme Court justices who took Monday's decision on the two amendments.

Several years ago, when he finished filling the Supreme Court and appointed Attorney General Ashley Moody, who regularly criticized the cannabis initiative, the governor proudly proclaimed he created the most conservative court in the nation.

And now, in one fell swoop, these conservative judges for reasons known to themselves, took a significant step toward undoing some of the nation's strictest abortion restrictions and gave a big green checkmark to recreational cannabis, both of which, if approved in November, will be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.

That's Gotta Hurt, Especially The Stinky ‘Weed One'

"The weed one is not just to decriminalize, it's basically a license to have it anywhere you want," DeSantis said. "No time, place and manner restrictions. This state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and counties. It will reduce the quality of life."

Will Legal Cannabis Be Approved In November?

If the 2016 voter approval of medical marijuana by one of largest margins in the country — fully 71% — is any measure, one would assume that Floridians will likely do the same this coming November.

Florida will be a hot topic at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Hollywood, Florida, April 16-17 at the Diplomat Beach Resort. Join us to rub shoulders with entrepreneurs, both large and small, to network, learn and grow.

Renowned for its trendsetting abilities and influence on the future of cannabis, mark your calendars – this conference is the go-to event of the year for the cannabis world. Get your tickets now on bzcannabis.com – Prices will increase very soon!

Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Wikimedia Commons and Kindel Media on Pexels

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Comments
Loading...
Posted In: CannabisGovernmentNewsRegulationsPoliticsLegal2024 electionabortionFloridaFlorida CannabisFlorida Supreme Courtlegal cannabis amendmentRon DeSantisStories That Matter
Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!

Cannabis is evolving – don’t get left behind!

Curious about what’s next for the industry and how to leverage California’s unique market?

Join top executives, policymakers, and investors at the Benzinga Cannabis Market Spotlight in Anaheim, CA, at the House of Blues on November 12. Dive deep into the latest strategies, investment trends, and brand insights that are shaping the future of cannabis!

Get your tickets now to secure your spot and avoid last-minute price hikes.