With the 2021 legislative session having just kicked off on March 2nd, Orlando Democratic State Reps. Carlos Smith and Anna Eskamani are leading the charge on their third pass at marijuana legalization in Florida. A bill that not only has bipartisan support, but a thumbs up from 64% of Floridians according to a University of North Florida poll.[1]
Rep. Carlos Smith’s legislation, “Availability of Marijuana for Adult Use (HB 343),” looks to do the following:[2]
- Legalize the use and transport of marijuana for adults 21 and over
- Expunges prior convictions from marijuana-users’ records
- Triggers sentence reviews for all currently incarcerated for marijuana
- Reverse the injustice of a criminal justice disaster whereby black Americans are 3.6x more likely than white Americans to be arrested for Marijuana despite equal use[3][4]
- Raise $2.1 billion in retail taxes, $672 million in tourism sales taxes, and $128 million in residential sales tax[5]
With unprecedented public support, Orlando’s best drafting the legislation, and some Republicans finally supporting something right, why are we still sitting here unsure when this is going to happen?
There’s really one answer; Governor DeSantis and the extreme-right of the Republican Party of Florida are blocking this common-sense bipartisan effort.
When asked about bringing the legislation to the floor this session, Senate President Wilton Simpson R-Trilby responded with just, “no.”[6] Gov. DeSantis even weighed in recently with a similar curt, “Not while I’m governor,” when asked by North Florida’s WCTV station.
With a $3.3 billion budget shortfall under their watch, does Gov. DeSantis really think he can afford fearing change?[7] Without Trump, Florida’s Republican leadership seems lost on where they stand nowadays and what it means to be a Floridian.
If Republicans can’t grasp this low-hanging fruit by protecting our civil liberties and billions in potential tax revenue for our schools then they don’t deserve to lead.
If you want to get involved in the fight, look up your local State Representative and State Senator here and demand they respect the will of the Florida voter by supporting HB 343 and SB 710.
[1] https://www.unf.edu/uploadedFiles/aa/coas/porl/Website%20Crosstabs%20FLORIDA.pdf
[2]https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0343__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0343&Session=2021
[3] https://graphics.aclu.org/marijuana-arrest-report/
[4] The ACLU study reviewed 49 states with one governor refusing to release data to the ACLU; Gov. DeSantis
[5] https://floridapolitics.com/archives/308723-financial-impact-statement-on-pot-legalization-push-in-sight
[6] https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2020/11/29/advocates-hopeful-florida-voters-approve-adult-use-marijuana-recreational-legalize-amendment/6337800002/
[7] https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2020/12/22/florida-legislature-faces-projected–3-3-billion-revenue-shortfall
