Finally, and most importantly, the use of marijuana does not belong in our Florida Constitution. Approval of Amendment 2 would make Florida one of only three states with the right to marijuana in its state constitution. Other states that have authorized medical marijuana have done so by statutory laws. This approach has allowed the legislatures in these state to modify their laws to make them more effective and to deal with a host of unintended consequences.
If we enshrine Amendment 2 in our Florida Constitution, the people of Florida will forfeit their ability to legislatively improve the law and to address the inevitable unintended consequences. In fact, “medical marijuana” is already available in Florida. Several years ago, our elected representatives in the Florida Legislature legalized medical marijuana by making low-THC marijuana available to treat seizures; and, they recently gave patients with terminal conditions access to marijuana to alleviate pain during their last year of life. If broader access to marijuana is needed, Floridian should assure our elected representative do so legislatively.
Do you think the 2nd Amendment will be destroyed by the Biden Administration?(2)
Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes is an issue on which reasonable people disagree. But all should agree that imbedding Amendment 2, as written, into our constitution is a very bad idea. Other states have experienced a host of unintended and undesirable consequences when they have legalized marijuana use.
The same will occur here. Given this indisputable fact, we believe Floridians should agree that this amendment does not belong in Florida’s Constitution. Instead, the use of marijuana should continue to be addressed through the legislative process. As former Florida Supreme Court Justices who love Florida and its great Constitution, we urge voters to protect and defend our Constitution and the fundamental principles of representative form of government by voting “No” on Amendment 2.
Parker Lee McDonald, Chief Justice 1986-1988; Justice 1979-1994 Stephen H. Grimes, Chief Justice 1994-1996; Justice 1987-1997 Major B. Harding, Chief Justice 2000-2002; Justice 1994-2009 Raoul G. Cantero, III, Justice 2002-2008Kenneth B. Bell, Justice 2002-2008
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