On Florida’s Amendment 3, legalizing recreational marijuana, Florida conservatives are drawing a line in the sand, not against liberals, but instead against other conservatives.
The Florida governor and other members of Team DeSantis, which includes the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association and some inside the Florida Fraternal Order of Police are in unity opposing the recreational marijuana amendment.
But now a different group of conservatives are in favor of passing the initiative, team MAGA.
Former President Donald Trump said during an interview with podcast host Lex Fridman that “Medical marijuana has been amazing” for the state of Florida and this year’s marijuana measure. Trump said, “The way they’re doing it in Florida, I think, is going to be actually good. It’s going to be very good, but it’s got to be done in a good way. It’s got to be done in a clean way.”
Before Trump announced his support, another member of team MAGA, Florida State Senator Joe Gruters announced his endorsement of the amendment back in July.
Gruters, the former chair of the RPOF and Florida’s co-chairman of Trump’s 2016 campaign, praised Trump for his stance.
Longtime member of team MAGA, Roger Stone, also completed Trump’s position on the amendment. But after Trump’s comments of support for legalizing recreational marijuana, the rift began among GOP officials and those aligned with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The governor’s Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier, criticized Sen. Gruters.
“It’s a shame that someone like Joe Gruters would support an amendment that has virtually no checks on where and how marijuana can be consumed—putting kids at risk,” Uthmeier said.
Another supporter of Gov. DeSantis, Gilchrist County GOP Chair David Biddle said, “Don’t listen to Trump. Vote NO on Amendment 3. We don’t need recreational marijuana in Florida. It’s bad for Florida.”
DeSantis supporter and former Trump election attorney Jenna Ellis indicated that Trump’s comments on marijuana were to take the focus away from the pro-abortion amendment 4 on this year’s ballot.
Some GOP County chairs told Florida Daily that Trump’s support of Amendment 3 is creating problems within the party.
“Florida’s top conservative leaders come out, along with state law enforcement and oppose this issue and then the former president comes behind us with no warning, no communication, thereby cutting us off at the knees, it’s not helping,” said one GOP county official.
Other elected GOP lawmakers are quietly fuming over Trump’s comments. “Where’s he been? Why now? The Governor, the state GOP, and state police organizations came out early to oppose this amendment, and Trump decided not to take a position like DeSantis and others did, but instead waited till the last minute,” a lawmaker told Florida Daily.
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