Trump Takes New Approach on Marijuana

As a Florida resident, Trump stated that he could support a recreational marijuana law to decriminalize personal amounts.

With so many states passing similar laws, the American people are changing their ideas on marijuana. Although most still do not use it, they no longer want personal users prosecuted solely for it. The Hill says:

Former President Trump suggested he could support a Florida ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana.

“In Florida, like so many other States that have already given their approval, personal amounts of marijuana will be legalized for adults with Amendment 3,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site. “Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the Voters, so it should be done correctly.”

Decriminalization and legalization are slightly different approaches to the same problem. Decriminalization does not make marijuana legally available, but does not prosecute customers. The NY Times reports:

Mr. Trump’s statement appeared to walk a line meant to keep him from fully upsetting those opposed to the measure. He did not say how he personally would vote on Amendment 3, and he did not explicitly back the legalization of marijuana even as he again suggested he supported decriminalizing it.

“Someone should not be a criminal in Florida, when this is legal in so many other States,” he said. “We do not need to ruin lives & waste Taxpayer Dollars arresting adults with personal amounts of it on them, and no one should grieve a loved one because they died from fentanyl laced marijuana.”

Marijuana decriminalization at the national level is still in the hands of the executive, and this could show where the Republican Party is going.

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