The battle is on
Florida’s Voice reports
Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, announced that he would be introducing a bill in the upcoming legislative session to regulate marijuana following his support of a ballot amendment legalizing the drug recreationally.
Florida’s Voice attained a draft of the legislation, which defines a “public place” and revises the term “smoking” to include the inhaling, exhaling, burning, carrying or possession of marijuana products.
It would include the drug in the list of products that are prohibited to smoke inside of public places and indoor work spaces unless otherwise provided.
A “public place” is defined as an area in which the public has access to, including, not limited to streets; sidewalks; highways; public parks, and the common areas, both inside and outside, of schools, hospitals, government buildings, apartment buildings, office buildings, lodging establishments, restaurants, transportation facilities and retail shops.
Gruters recently came out in support of Florida’s Amendment 3, which enshrines recreational marijuana use in the state’s constitution.
“Amendment 3 is about personal freedom; but it is also about creating a safer, more regulated recreational marijuana market and generating much-needed revenue for critical public services like our law enforcement,” Gruters said on social media.
“By legalizing recreational marijuana for adults, we can give Floridians access to safe products, generate significant revenue for critical public services and create new job opportunities for Floridians,” he said in a statement posted by Smart and Safe Florida, the organization sponsoring the amendment.
“I urge you to join me in voting ‘yes’ on amendment 3 this Novembers,” he added. “Together, we can build a safer, smarter future for the free state of Florida.”
Ballot initiatives require 60% to pass. Recent polling suggests the amendment has sufficient support to be approved.
Gruters is a national committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida, which formally opposed the amendment during their spring quarterly, while also opposing ballot amendment 4, which enshrines the right to abortion into the Florida Constitution.
