Ron DeSantis, Pregnant Pigs And Florida's Cannabis Legalization: Battle Over Constitutional Amendment Rages

A new poll shows Florida’s proposed cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, is just shy of the 60% approval needed for passage.

Opposition to the amendment, which will go before voters in the Nov. 5 elections, is intensifying. Well-funded groups like Keep Florida Clean and the Florida Freedom Fund — both connected to Governor Ron DeSantis — report having raised significant resources, though not nearly as much as pro-legalization efforts, which hover in the $100 million range.

Read Also: Elon Musk-Linked Organization Donates $500,000 To Scuttle Florida Cannabis Legalization Amendment

Chamber Of Commerce And Pregnant Pigs

Jumping into the political fray, the Florida Chamber of Commerce launched a new anti-Amendment 3 website recently.

Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber, argues that passing the amendment would endanger Florida's family and business-friendly image and negatively impact the state's quality of life, noted Florida Politics.

"Just like pregnant pigs had no place in our state constitution decades ago, legalizing drugs should not be rammed into our foundational document just because one company can dump $100 million into an ad campaign,” Wilson said, doubtless referring to Trulieve Cannabis Corp. TCNNF, which has indeed contributed at least $90 million toward the cannabis legalization campaign.

Pregnant Pigs? We Figured You’d Ask

Wilson was referring to a 2002 constitutional amendment that banned the confinement of pregnant pigs in small crates, brought by animal rights activists, making Florida the first state to include such a provision in its constitution. The phrase has since become a metaphor for the broader argument that certain issues do not belong in a state constitution.

Pro-Cannabis Activity

Meanwhile, state Senator Joe Gruters who recently appeared in a new ad defending Amendment 3, dismissed concerns raised by opponents, specifically DeSantis who has argued that Florida lawmakers will have no power to restrict where and when people can consume marijuana if the amendment passes.

"There's nothing in their proposed amendment that authorizes any restriction of public use. They say you can't be penalized for possessing or using it,” DeSantis said.

Gruters pushed back, saying the Florida Constitution is clear. “It gives the legislature the full control and the ability to go ahead and legislate items that are generally due to the safety, welfare and health of the population. It's broad-based powers. We will be able to regulate this,” Gruters said in an interview with Action News Jax.

"We have a conservative Governor in Ron DeSantis, we have a conservative legislature. There's no question in my mind that we will be able to have an implementing bill that will do the right thing for Florida,” Gruters added.

Now Read:

• Florida Cannabis Legalization Gains Support From Former Congressman, Citing Economic Growth, Public Health

Photo: Shutterstock