Why Florida Needs To Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Smoking cannabis has become as normal as drinking beer. 

So it’s surprising to me that possessing less than 20 grams of unlicensed marijuana can lead to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

From a libertarian standpoint, it’s clear that the cultivation and consumption of recreational weed should be legalized. We don’t need to continue devoting law enforcement manpower to wage a war on a drug that is less dangerous than alcohol.

If prohibition showed us anything in the 1920s, it is that banning a substance will not decrease its use. It wasn’t until the Great Depression that the ban was lifted so the government could collect more tax revenue.

Something similar should happen with cannabis.

Legalizing marijuana would strengthen Florida’s economy. Cannabis consumers would be able to support local Florida cannabis farms instead of purchasing in weed from other states such as California through illicit and dangerous sales.

Crime would also be drastically reduced. Legalizing weed would drop its market value exponentially, hence decreasing the strength of gangs and drug cartels that reap the benefits of high illicit prices.

In California, the value of cannabis drastically dropped due to an oversaturated market. This created a safer and more stable cannabis industry in the state.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis is not a fan of weed legalization, remarking earlier this year on the “putrid” smell it brings to the streets of legalized states. However, the issue is not in his control.

If 60% of Florida voters choose to, cannabis will be legalized.

Two campaigns—Regulate Florida and Make It Legal Florida—were created to lobby for the legalization of weed in the upcoming 2022 midterm election. Unfortunately, both were shut down by the Florida Supreme Court for having misleading language in their proposed bills.

This month, the Smart & Safe Florida campaign was launched by Trulieve—the company with the most medical marijuana dispensaries in Florida—and the Bellamy Brothers, a pop and country music duo.

The campaign aims to allow existing licensed dispensaries to expand their markets to include recreational marijuana by the 2024 presidential election.

With 19 states having already legalized recreational marijuana, what are we waiting for?

You can support the legalization of marijuana in Florida by signing the Regulate Florida’s petition to appear on the 2024 election ballot through this link: www.regulateflorida.com. You may also sign the Smart and Safe Florida petition at www.smartandsafeflorida.com.

Both Petitions require 891,589 signatures to be featured on the ballot.