Florida may face similar challenges to New York with legalization of marijuana

As Floridians head to the polls this November, they face a crucial decision: whether to allow businesses to sell marijuana, similar to what is already permitted in 24 other states, like New York.

Florida’s Amendment 3 has garnered support from influential figures, including an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

This referendum serves as a key indicator of the potential for marijuana legalization on a national scale.

While proponents highlight the perceived injustice of marijuana prohibition, they conveniently overlook the true implications of the law, which would legalize profiting from marijuana sales.

Amendment 3 would authorize medical dispensaries and future license holders to sell cannabis to any adult.

This alone should provoke skepticism among Floridians and the general public regarding the potential consequences of legalization.

The prospect of a legal marijuana market is enticing for major corporations, as evidenced by their substantial efforts to bring it to fruition.

However, Floridians should question whether they want their communities and children placed in the hands of profit-driven drug companies.

Undoubtedly, large corporations are eager for the legalization of marijuana.

Florida, currently the second-largest state without a legal marijuana market after Texas, presents a substantial opportunity for marijuana businesses.

For these companies, facing market challenges and declining values elsewhere, Florida represents a promising market.

Consequently, Trulieve, the primary supporter of the Amendment, has invested $80 million in its passage, a figure nearly six times higher than what opponents have spent but only a fraction of the potential profits from the billion-dollar business in Florida.

However, can Floridians trust Trulieve?

This is the same company that settled for a six-figure sum after a tragic incident in Massachusetts involving an employee’s death from inhaling marijuana dust at work.

An investigation by the state’s cannabis commission revealed Trulieve’s failure to comply with safety regulations, leading to its cessation of operations in the state.

Additionally, the company’s CEO’s husband, J.T. Burnette, was implicated in unethical practices to gain a competitive advantage in the Florida medical marijuana market.

Burnette, currently facing legal issues, boasted about collaborating with a state legislator to hinder potential competitors from obtaining medical licenses.

Given these troubling revelations, should Floridians entrust Trulieve with running the recreational marijuana market in the state?

The answer holds significant importance, as reckless marijuana legalization strategies can lead to severe consequences.

Experiences from other states illustrate the potential pitfalls of legalization.

For instance, research from the Kansas City branch of the Federal Reserve shows that recreational marijuana legalization can escalate rates of addiction, chronic homelessness, and arrests by sizable margins.

Furthermore, it can negatively impact workplace productivity, as incidents of marijuana-related accidents have surged in states with legalized marijuana.

Dispensaries have been linked to a decrease in nearby property values, and the pervasive marijuana odor in areas poses challenges in maintaining clean air standards, as observed in Florida.

Additionally, the legalization of marijuana has adverse effects on children, contributing to elevated pediatric hospitalizations and increasing the risk of developing cannabis use disorders.

Some individuals exposed to marijuana at a young age may be at a heightened risk of developing mental health conditions like psychosis and schizophrenia.

New Yorkers have witnessed these challenges firsthand since the legalization of marijuana, contending with a booming, sometimes dangerous black market, adolescent marijuana use in schools, and the prevailing smell of marijuana in public spaces.

This grim reality serves as a cautionary tale for other states, including Florida.

As Floridians participate in the upcoming election, they should deliberate on the true implications of their vote.

They are not simply deciding on whether to keep individuals out of jail for marijuana-related offenses—very few are imprisoned solely for marijuana crimes.

Rather, they are essentially deciding on whether to allow powerful corporations to profit from distributing an addictive and harmful substance.

While personal choices regarding marijuana use are individual decisions, Floridians should exercise caution in permitting greed-driven marijuana businesses to thrive, as it could lead to disastrous consequences.

Charles Fain Lehman is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.