JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Amendment 3, the ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana for adults in Florida, is getting support from some unexpected places.
Nat Glover, the former sheriff of Jacksonville who worked in law enforcement for 37 years, and Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith have both come out in support of Amendment 3 in recent days.
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Glover said legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida would put an end to the unnecessary arrest of people for simple marijuana possession and relieve the burden on the criminal justice system.
“If Amendment 3 passes, it will make sure people are not jailed for small amounts of marijuana. I also believe that if Amendment 3 becomes law, we have the real possibility of clearing the criminal records of those previously convicted of small possession of marijuana,” Glover said in a news release posted by Smart & Same Florida, a group that had advocated for “Yes on 3.” “As a former sheriff, I have seen too many lives ruined by arrests and incarceration for small amounts of marijuana. If Amendment 3 were to pass, it will allow law enforcement to focus more on violent crime and those areas truly dangerous to our communities.”
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In a commercial supported by Smart & Safe Florida that’s been running on TV lately, Smith starts by saying “Using marijuana doesn’t make you a bad person, and it’s time we stop ruining lives over it."
“Amendment 3 will get marijuana laced with Chinese fentanyl off our streets and save countless Florida lives,” Smith said.
Vote #YesOn3, and let’s end needless arrests for marijuana possession in Florida. pic.twitter.com/XrUuZHaeBC
— Smart & Safe Florida (@SmartandSafeFl) October 9, 2024
On the other side, current Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters has come out strongly against Amendment 3.
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“I’m dead set against it,” he said. “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.”
Waters also claimed that traffic incidents would rise if marijuana is legalized.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also come out against Amendment 3.
