Police groups oppose Florida recreational weed. Supporters say prohibition drains money

As law enforcement groups come out against Florida's recreational marijuana ballot measure , supporters say the current prohibition has far too great "cops and courts" costs.

“We believe that passage of Constitutional Amendment 3 “Adult Use of Marijuana” – otherwise known as recreational marijuana – will hurt public safety and ultimately cost Floridians tax dollars and lives," said Florida Police Chiefs Association president Chief Charles Vazquez in a Tuesday statement .

"Among these impacts will be the growth of illegal markets and criminal cartels, impaired driving and traffic fatalities, homelessness and hospitalization as a result of marijuana use,” Vazquez added.

The Florida Sheriffs Association also announced its opposition on Tuesday, although one of its members – Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young, an ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis – supports its passage .

DeSantis himself has voiced the same concerns as the associations and said the measure would be "bad for quality of life."

But Smart & Safe Florida , the group pushing the amendment, denies those claims. It says marijuana arrests are a strain on those chiefs' time and resources.

“This November, Floridians have a choice: More individual freedom and money for police and schools, or less freedom than a majority of Americans and money left on the table,” said Morgan Hill, its spokesperson, in a Monday statement .

“Florida’s overburdened police deserve more resources and the ability to focus on violent crime, and the school system deserves every opportunity to thrive."

Hill cited a recent story on Leafly, a cannabis resource website. A 2023 state government fiscal analysis estimated that recreational marijuana sales would bring in "at least $195.6 million annually in state and local sales tax revenues once the retail market is fully operational."

Leafly reported that the figure may be low, possibly by a few hundred million dollars, citing how the Florida Legislature may want to create "sin taxes" on the product. And even an upper estimate in the state report projected more than $430 million in revenue.

But the state and local governments would also be saving money, Leafly writes, with the arrests, legal process, and prison sentences adding up to millions of dollars annually. The Tampa Bay Times reported that state prosecutors last year filed more than 66,000 charges against people for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

When asked for comment, Sarah Bascom, spokesperson for anti-amendment campaign Vote No on 3, shared the Florida Sheriffs Association announcement.

"Florida law enforcement has spoken, and you can read where that data shows that recreational marijuana will lead to increased crime and impact public safety in a negative way," she said.

On its website , Smart and Safe Florida counters that the amendment would decrease gang violence and hurt Mexican cartels, while also ensuring marijuana users have access to a safe, regulated product.

How is Amendment 3 polling among likely voters?

A poll of likely Florida voters from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab, released Tuesday , indicates that Amendment 3 currently has enough support to pass by the 60% threshold required. Of those surveyed , 64% said they would vote for it, while 31% said they would oppose it.

A June Fox News poll also had the marijuana amendment receiving enough support to pass, though an April USA TODAY/Ipsos poll had it falling short. And a May survey by the Florida Chamber of Commerce , which opposes the measure, also had the marijuana measure failing.

But Vote No on 3 released poll results last week that showed 64% of Floridians supported it and 27% opposed.

The campaign portrayed that as a bad thing for the amendment, however, since a February poll showed 65% support.

It highlights "how support for Amendment 3 is stuck in the mud and its opposition has grown, despite proponents spending nearly $5 million on television ads in multiple major markets across Florida unanswered," the group said in a press release.

The pro-amendment campaign has largely been funded by Trulieve, Florida's largest medical marijuana operator, which has also drawn DeSantis' criticism.

"I've had some people come to me say, 'Yeah, I don't like marijuana, but maybe I'll grow it on my farm or something like that.' No, no, no, you will not be allowed to," DeSantis recently said . "They are basically putting corporate protectionism in the Constitution to protect them."

DeSantis last month launched Florida Freedom Fund , a group that in part is funding opposition to Amendment 3. It's chaired by James Uthmeier, the governor’s chief of staff. Vote No on 3 is the brand name of the public voice of political action committee Keep Florida Clean, Inc. , also chaired by Uthmeier.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Police groups oppose Florida recreational weed. Supporters say prohibition drains money