It’s been six weeks since the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 3 could be on the ballot in November. And six weeks of silence from the two largest organizations representing Sheriffs and police chiefs in the Sunshine State. Their job is law enforcement. But the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association have issued no statements indicating whether they support, oppose, or will remain neutral on the proposal to legalize recreational marijuana. Right now in Florida, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, and a $500 fine. But some local governments, including Orlando, Cocoa Beach, and Volusia county, have reduced the penalty to a civil fine. If voters give the green light to Amendment 3 “adult personal use of marijuana” will mean you can possess an amount “not to exceed three ounces.” Today, that amount… equivalent to approximately 85 grams… would be a felony punishable by five years in prison and $5,000. Waiting for all of these potential changes to take place are police, deputies and troopers who have the job of making sure laws are enforced. WESH 2 News talked with the head of the largest law enforcement agency in central Florida, Orange county Sheriff John Mina, who said, “Our focus has always been on drug traffickers, violent drug trafficking organizations, and so it’s really not going to have an effect on us. Sheriff Mina also says legalizing pot is not going to suddenly clear prisons, adding, “In the Orange county jail, there’s not a single person in there for just simple possession of marijuana.” We checked the weekend arrest reports in at the Orange county jail and found the names of three dozen inmates facing cannabis charges, but none that didn’t also include some other charges. Certainly recreational marijuana presents the likelihood of more impaired drivers on the road, and police say that has been the case since the 2016 passage of medical marijuana, prompting many agencies to train officers as Drug Recognition Experts or DRE’s. Mina added, “Although it may be legal just as alcohol is, you still have to follow the laws of the road and not drive under the influence.” While Sheriff Mina is talking about recreational marijuana, he declined to say if he’s casting a ballot for it. Florida requires 60% of voters to say “yes” in order for an amendment to pass. Even as voters decide on Amendment 3, the administration of President Joe Biden is moving toward reclassifying marijuana down from a schedule one drug, like LSD and heroin, to a schedule three drug, like steroids. Public input will be collected before a decision is made.
It’s been six weeks since the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 3 could be on the ballot in November. And six weeks of silence from the two largest organizations representing Sheriffs and police chiefs in the Sunshine State. Their job is law enforcement.
But the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association have issued no statements indicating whether they support, oppose, or will remain neutral on the proposal to legalize recreational marijuana.
Right now in Florida, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, and a $500 fine.
But some local governments, including Orlando, Cocoa Beach, and Volusia county, have reduced the penalty to a civil fine.
If voters give the green light to Amendment 3 “adult personal use of marijuana” will mean you can possess an amount “not to exceed three ounces.” Today, that amount… equivalent to approximately 85 grams… would be a felony punishable by five years in prison and $5,000.
Waiting for all of these potential changes to take place are police, deputies and troopers who have the job of making sure laws are enforced. WESH 2 News talked with the head of the largest law enforcement agency in central Florida, Orange county Sheriff John Mina, who said, “Our focus has always been on drug traffickers, violent drug trafficking organizations, and so it’s really not going to have an effect on us.
Sheriff Mina also says legalizing pot is not going to suddenly clear prisons, adding, “In the Orange county jail, there’s not a single person in there for just simple possession of marijuana.”
We checked the weekend arrest reports in at the Orange county jail and found the names of three dozen inmates facing cannabis charges, but none that didn’t also include some other charges.
Certainly recreational marijuana presents the likelihood of more impaired drivers on the road, and police say that has been the case since the 2016 passage of medical marijuana, prompting many agencies to train officers as Drug Recognition Experts or DRE’s. Mina added, “Although it may be legal just as alcohol is, you still have to follow the laws of the road and not drive under the influence.”
While Sheriff Mina is talking about recreational marijuana, he declined to say if he’s casting a ballot for it.
Florida requires 60% of voters to say “yes” in order for an amendment to pass.
Even as voters decide on Amendment 3, the administration of President Joe Biden is moving toward reclassifying marijuana down from a schedule one drug, like LSD and heroin, to a schedule three drug, like steroids. Public input will be collected before a decision is made.
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