Kamala Harris Gains On Trump In His Home State Of Florida: Why? Cannabis Legalization And Abortion Access

Florida politicians say the state's Black, young and undecided voters are more energized with Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket and that their participation at the polls could be just what the doctor ordered to get two controversial amendments approved in the  November 2024 election and a Democrat in the White House.

Florida voters will decide on whether they want abortion access and the legalization of recreational marijuana to be enshrined in the state constitution.

Renewed Enthusiasm With Harris On The Ballot

"Voters were not excited about coming out for another Joe versus Trump race, but they are reinvigorated and excited about what Kamala stands for," said Lauren Book, a Democratic state senator from Broward County, reports the Sun Sentinel.

Advocates say Harris' presence could increase turnout, particularly among demographics that are more likely to vote yes on the cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3.

"Harris' nomination could energize the Democratic base and potentially increase voter turnout, which generally benefits progressive measures like Amendment 3," Emily Fisher, the CEO of medical marijuana company Leafwell told the Sentinel in an email.

Kamala Harris, it seems, could generally challenge Trump’s hold on Florida by capitalizing on the cannabis legalization and abortion initiatives. On a national level, a Wall Street Journal poll published July 26 showed Trump with 49% and Harris trailing slightly behind with 47%.

A newer poll from the University of North Florida gave Trump a seven-point lead over Harris among Florida voters. However, 64% of those polled say they’ll vote yes on cannabis legalization. About 69% will vote yes on legal abortion access.

Read Also: Kamala Harris’s Hearty Laugh – Why Does It Bother Donald Trump And His Followers So Much?

Trump On Cannabis Legalization: Who Knows?

Meanwhile, Trump's stand on cannabis legalization has been somewhere between incomprehensible and contradictory. His tendency to blend anti-drug rhetoric with recognition of states' rights to enact their own cannabis laws has kept everyone guessing. He’s called for the death penalty for drug dealers on various occasions, despite having pardoned several people convicted of selling drugs before he left office in January 2021.

What's A Republic Presidential Candidate To Do?

"If you're Trump, you want to have as many safe states as possible, especially ones rich in electoral votes like Florida, so you can focus efforts on the Rust Belt and the Sun Belt, where states can make or break presidential races. So, for Trump, there's a way to get Florida more squarely in his column, and it's not even all that hard. Endorse Amendment 3," says Peter Schorsch, publisher of FloridaPolitics.com.

"It isn't a new concept. Before Biden dropped out of the race, USA Today made the case that both men had an opportunity to boost their dismal popularity among voters, particularly young voters, by supporting at least some measure of pot legalization," Schorsch added.

Oh, yeah… Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis? He vehemently opposes the legalization initiative based on concerns over the broad language of the amendment, its negative societal effects then there’s the smell.

Now Read:

• Anthony Scaramucci Says Donald Trump’s Verbal Sparring With Kamala Harris A Mistake, Adds Vice President Can ‘Shock The World’ In Terms Of Skillset And Capability

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