The political mix of abortion and pot

Ka-boom. It happened. And my liberal friends are over the moon.

Abortion and pot will be on the November ballot in Florida, and life as we know it will never be the same. Or so we are told.

“Florida Electorate Will Change This November” chortles one headline. The right to abort fetuses and promote addiction will energize turnout among women and young voters, say the Democrats.

And that, the Dems hope, will flip Florida. A very red state will turn blue.

It’s not going to happen. No matter the fate of the amendments, whether they pass or not, Florida will remain red. Few if any GOPers will vote for Democrat candidates.

In case you’ve been living on the moon, here’s what we’re talking about. Earlier this month, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a six-week abortion ban, one of the toughest in the country. Then it threw the ball to the voters by allowing on the November ballot a constitutional amendment (Amendment 4) that would ensure abortion access until total fetal viability, about 24 weeks.

TRECKER

Six weeks versus 24 weeks. Quite a difference. The voters will have to choose between two extremes. There is no middle ground.

Florida won’t be alone in making the call. Twelve other states plan to put the abortion question to voters in November.

The other amendment the court allowed (Amendment 3) would legalize marijuana for recreational use, greatly expanding access to a drug now permitted in Florida only for medical purposes. Purchase or possession would be limited to 3 ounces by people 21 and older.

Recreational weed is currently legal in 25 states. Five more, including Florida, are about to let the voters decide.

We all know the pro/con arguments. Pot is no more dangerous than alcohol. Unregulated black-market weed is often impure, risking serious illness. Regular users say there’s nothing better than getting high from toking.

On the negative side, marijuana has a devastating effect on the developing brains of young people. It’s highly addictive and a gateway to heroin and cocaine. Even small amounts heighten risk of heart attack and stroke. And more weed means more traffic accidents.

But whether you’re for it or against it, one thing is certain. The economic incentives are huge. It’s said approval of the amendment would increase the current (medical) market in Florida by ten-fold. That’s a big deal. So put on your investing hat. There’s money to be made.

The political landscape is pretty clear. Gov. Ron DeSantis opposes both amendments, claiming they are far too broad. The Florida Chamber of Commerce put out a statement saying, “Recreational drugs, like pigs, don’t belong in Florida’s constitution.” Not surprisingly, Democrat party chair Nikki Fried, a woman and former lobbyist for the marijuana industry, is enamored with both amendments.

What about voters in general? At this early stage, pollsters see 75-80% of Democrats supporting both and about the same percentage of Republicans opposing both. Expect huge swings before November. Many, like me, will split their vote, approving one and nixing the other.

There are a couple more amendments on the ballot, both yawners.

Amendment 1 would change school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan beginning in 2026. Party stalwarts would then know how to vote.

Amendment 2 would establish a state constitutional right to hunt and fish, a gift to gun owners.

To be enshrined in the constitution, these amendments must be approved by 60% of those voting in November. History favors passage. Over the past 35 years, 79% of amendments that made it to the ballot were approved. ¦

— Dave Trecker is a chemist and retired Pfizer executive living in Florida.

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