TAMPA, Fla. — Both sides on Amendment 3 are reaching out to voters and ramping up their campaigns to reach voters in the Sunshine State.

It comes as former president Donald Trump threw his support behind the measure — which could legalize marijuana in Florida for adults over the age of 21.


What You Need To Know

  • Both sides on Amendment 3 are reaching out to voters and ramping up their campaigns to reach voters in the Sunshine State

  • Republican State Sen. Joe Gruters also supports the amendment saying it's "long overdue"

  • Dr. Jessica Spencer with Vote “No” on 3 — says it’s a bad idea, worrying about the fact the amendment allows smoking anywhere and that it wouldn't allow for home growing

Trump wrote in a “Truth” post online over the weekend saying, “Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the voters, so it should be done correctly.”

Republican State Sen. Joe Gruters also supports the amendment.

“Its silly, it’s long overdue — and I think if you do it the right way, it’s a winner,” Gruters said.

He says it can be a strong revenue driver and in turn — that money could be used to boost law enforcement and drug prevention and treatment programs.

“How can we make it safer and to me it was really about getting the product out of these legacy markets — first and foremost — trying to make sure we have a safer product that’s regulated,” Gruters said.

But those against it worry that Amendment 3 — which would be a constitutional amendment — is too vague in its language. Dr. Jessica Spencer with Vote “No” on 3 — says it’s a bad idea.

“This amendment allows smoking anywhere. There are no provisions that say you can not smoke in apartment buildings or condos or restaurants or areas of children’s play,” Spencer said.

She also worries that it would allow a person to carry upwards of 85 grams of marijuana. Also, that it wouldn’t allow for home growing. She says it’s only to boost major corporations and could have negative impacts on people’s health.

“We are already seeing the influx of marijuana edibles and the increase of youth exposed to these edibles and our ER visits go up in other states that have legalizations,” Spencer said.

Senator Gruters disagrees — saying all of this can be worked out in the legislature. He supports home growing and banning smoking in public places. He thinks it will pass — especially with Trump throwing his support behind the measure.

“We’ve had numerous conservations on this and look, he wants to see this done right — he knows Florida can do it right and at the end of the day it’s about common sense reforms that’s really broad in nature,” Gruters said.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has previously voiced her support for legalizing marijuana as well. Both sides plan to continue pushing their points and at the end of the day — it will be up to the voters to decide.