Trump's Potential Endorsement of Florida's Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Former President Donald Trump's stance on Florida's upcoming marijuana legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, could significantly impact its fate. According to Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally and GOP political operative, a Trump endorsement would "guarantee victory" for the measure.
During a recent press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump remained vague about his position on Florida's legalization effort. He stated, "Florida has something coming up. I'll be making a statement about that fairly soon." However, he added, "As we legalize it throughout the country ... it's awfully hard to have people all over the jails that are in jail right now for something that's legal."
While Trump didn't explicitly endorse the initiative, he also didn't denounce it, despite opposition from Florida's GOP Governor Ron DeSantis.
Stone, a self-proclaimed GOP "agent provocateur," has been a strong advocate for cannabis reform despite his admiration for Richard Nixon, who launched the War on Drugs in 1968. Stone believes that Trump will likely maintain his broader position that marijuana policy should be determined by individual states without federal interference.
Stone told Marijuana Moment that a Trump endorsement would guarantee the initiative's passage, while a neutral stance could make the outcome more contentious. He noted that Trump's recognition of cannabis' medicinal value aligns with his broader pro-choice perspective on personal freedoms, with the exception of women's right to choose.
Trump's recent remarks suggest a shift in his views on criminalizing marijuana users, which is consistent with his criminal justice reforms during his presidency.
Stone concluded that Florida's conservative legislature is unlikely to pass adult-use legalization anytime soon, making Amendment 3 a crucial step toward reform.