Trump endorses Florida marijuana legalization, stresses it must be done 'correctly' despite GOP pushback

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former president Donald Trump hinted he would support a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in his home state Florida, but insisted the legislation should be done "correctly."

"In Florida, like so many other States that have already given their approval, personal amounts of marijuana will be legalized for adults with Amendment 3," the GOP presidential nominee wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday, August 31.

"Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the Voters, so it should be done correctly," he added.

Trump divulged his take on Amendment 3, also known as Adult Personal Use of Marijuana, which would be on the ballot in November, aimed to amend Florida's Constitution to legalize marijuana despite opposition from GOP leaders, including the Sunshine State Governor Ron DeSantis.

Donald Trump supports prohibiting marijuana in public places

Despite signaling his backing for legalizing marijuana, Donald Trump stressed that laws should be formulated to ban the use of marijuana in public places.

"We need the State Legislature to responsibly create laws that prohibit the use of it in public spaces, so we do not smell marijuana everywhere we go, like we do in many of the Democrat run Cities," he wrote.

The MAGA spearhead added that his position on Amendment 3 was in accordance with his law and order policies to not hold someone a criminal in Florida when marijuana is legal in other states.

He also asserted that criminalizing weed would "ruin lives & waste Taxpayer Dollars [by] arresting adults with personal amounts of it on them."

"No one should grieve a loved one because they died from fentanyl-laced marijuana," Trump claimed.

Donald Trump's support for marijuana comes amid GOP opposition

Though Donald Trump was unclear about how he would vote for the ballot measure in November, his support for Amendment 3 contradicted other Republican lawmakers.

Florida Governor DeSantis last week wrote on X that Amendment 3 was "bad policy and even worse constitutional law." He also asserted it was written "by the CEO of a weed company that has poured $70 million (and counting) into the effort so that the company gets a constitutionally-protected monopoly on the market."

Senator Rick Scott in June declared he would vote against the ballot, citing his brother Roger Scott's history of addiction, reported CBS News. According to him, marijuana use could end up people with addictive personalities that could mess up one's life.

Rep Matt Gaetz also came out in opposition to legalizing recreational marijuana last month, saying, "Regardless of how someone feels about abortion or marijuana, I don't believe that those issues should be resolved in the state constitution," according to Florida Politics.

Public polling indicated that most Florida voters approved of legalizing weed. If 60% of the voters support the ballot measure to legalize it, adults 21 or above could possess and purchase up to three ounces of cannabis for recreational purposes.

Donald Trump slammed for supporting marijuana legalization in Florida

Netizens called out Donald Trump for backing the ballot measure to legalize weed in Florida. Many pointed out his recent flip-flop in the Sunshine State's abortion ban and claimed that the former president would support anything to win in November.

"The only interest he has is to win the presidency, he knows that it is the ULTIMATE BUSINESS, that he can ensure his old age, take everything he can and he knows the strategies of that business," one social media user said.

"All these single party voters that really think he’s going to legalize cannabis, he’s not. He was already in office and didnt legalize anything. He is straight up preying on misinformation and disinformation," another remarked.

"This clown will say anything to get elected. Same with abortion, ivf..whatever he thinks people want to hear," one person said.

"Again this is a lie. How do we know he won’t do this? Because he was President for 4 years and cracked down on legal weed sellers during his term," another added.

"And he should support Yes on 4 but he will support anything if he derives fame and adoration, then he is off to the next grift," someone else remarked.

"Now Trump is for legalizing drugs. Every day it just gets worse. Done even talking about it. He’s finished and deserves to be. I’m not bothering to vote for this crap," one individual chimed in.

"Until he backtracks because he thinks being against it will get him the Florida vote. He’s a grifter," another added.

"Don’t be shocked when he says the opposite later. He had 2 different positions on the abortion rights amendment in 2 days," read one remark.

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