JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office town hall meeting on Thursday, Sheriff T.K. Waters came out strongly against Amendment 3, a November ballot initiative that if approved would legalize the use of marijuana in Florida for those 21 years and older.
“I’m dead set against it,” he said.
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Waters told those on hand that his stance probably doesn’t surprise anyone “because I’m a policeman” and added that he doesn’t think legalization would be good for the state.
“Marijuana smoke is the most offensive smell to me ever,” he said. “I was in Stockton, California, not too long ago, and I’m walking from one place to another just, marijuana smoke. Why do I have to smell everyone else’s smoke?”
“I don’t want drugs legal in our city. I don’t want drugs legal in our state. I don’t want drugs legal in our country. It’s not good for us. It’s not good for our community.”
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Waters also claimed that traffic incidents would rise if marijuana is legalized.
“Judgment is the first thing you lose when you’re impaired,” he said.
A 2022 study published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that from 2009 to 2019, the combined effect of legalization and retail sales led to a 5.8% increase in injury crash rates and a 4.1% increase in fatal crash rates.
“Across states, the effects on injury crash rates ranged from a 7% decrease to an 18% increase. The effects on fatal crash rates ranged from a 10% decrease to a 4% increase,” the study found.
Waters said if the amendment does get the 60% of votes needed to pass, he would look at increasing DUI patrols.
Fact Check: If passed, would recreational marijuana tax money benefit Florida schools?
Supporters of recreational marijuana argue that legalization allows for quality control and regulation which would give consumers access to safer products.
According to a report from the Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference released in July of 2023, recreational marijuana would also generate sales tax revenue of between $195 million and $431 million a year in Florida. These sales tax dollars would mostly go to the state, just like any other sales tax. However, there’s currently no plan to direct the money to any specific use.
Some states that have legalized recreational marijuana have created separate excise taxes on top of regular sales taxes, with specific uses for those added tax dollars.
In Arizona:
• 34% of the proceeds go to community college districts
• 34% go to public safety, including police and fire departments
• 25% goes to the highway user revenue fund
In Oregon:
• 40% of cannabis taxes go to a state school fund
• 20% goes to mental health treatment or for alcohol and drug abuse prevention, early intervention, and treatment
• 15% goes to the state police
• 10% goes to cities
• 10% goes to counties
• 5% goes back to the Oregon Health Authority for a separate program
Lawmakers would need to create additional taxes to direct the marijuana tax money for specific uses, if passed.
A total of 24 states, plus the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana.