Conservative Sheriff Gordon Smith says he’s a “Yes” vote on Florida’s Amendment 3, which would legalize marijuana in the state.
Law enforcement officials around the state tell Florida Daily the Bradford County Sheriff is a bona fide conservative.
“I support Trump and Governor DeSantis has been one of the best Governors this state has ever seen,” Smith told WBOB Talk Radio.
When asked about his support for the amendment, Smith said it wasn’t a tough decision.
“To be honest, it was a no-brainer,” Smith said.
Sheriff Smith insists the low-level marijuana arrests are ruining lives in his county and prevent law enforcement from focusing on serious crime. Members of law enforcement do concede the point that more people die of prescription drugs compared to marijuana.
“We have more important problems to deal with, like scams hitting consumers in the county, illegal immigration, and stronger drugs like fentanyl and meth,” Smith said. “Legalizing recreational adult-use marijuana will put an end to needless arrests for simple possession and give our law enforcement officers greater time and resources to address serious crime.”
With the drug regulated, Smith advocates taxing marijuana and appropriating the revenue for education.
Smith told WBOB Radio that the Florida Sheriffs Association and some of his fellow colleagues disagree with him, but it is not something over which they would lose a friendship.
“I’ve probably incarcerated more people for misdemeanor amounts of marijuana than anybody else,” said Smith.
On the political side, Smith is a conservative Republican who’s served as sheriff of Bradford County for over 16 years. Smith said when medical marijuana was passed, there was a stereotype that Florida would politically turn blue.
“Not so, just look at the registration numbers the GOP has over Democrats in the state,” Smith said. “Sometimes in your heart, you have to do what you think is right and this is one of those situations that I feel that I’m right.”
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