A rift is emerging within the Republican party as young GOP members in Florida strongly oppose recent moves towards marijuana legalization, putting them at odds with former President Donald Trump.
The Capital Young Republicans of Tallahassee released a statement vehemently opposing the “rushed endorsement” of Florida’s Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana use in the state. The group, along with other Young Republican organizations across Florida, criticized the decision as displaying “a clear lack of judgment” and undermining thoughtful consideration of important policies.
“Amendment 3 is bad policy,” the statement asserts. “It was written by a small cadre of corporations to try to enrich their monopoly and profits while destroying the Florida we all know and love. This Amendment is for corporations, not conservatives.”
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The young GOP members affirmed their alignment with Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power in opposing the amendment. They urged voters to reject it in the upcoming election, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring Floridians understand the true nature of the amendment.
This comes as former President Donald Trump announced his support for Amendment 3 on Truth Social. He also expressed backing for federal legislation to remove banking restrictions on state-legal marijuana businesses and rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
However, Trump’s sudden embrace of marijuana reform has been met with skepticism. Critics, including the campaign for Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, have accused Trump of “blatant pandering.” They point to his previous record in office, which included cracking down on nonviolent marijuana offenses and opposing safe banking legislation for cannabis businesses.
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