MIAMI.- Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott announced that he will vote in November against an electoral amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in this southern state of the country. His decision, he said, is deeply influenced by the addiction history of his brother, Roger Scott.
Senator Scott, who was also governor of Florida, explained that his brother began using marijuana as a teenager and subsequently struggled with substance abuse throughout his life.
“People end up with addictive personalities, and that’s what happened to him,” Scott said in an interview. “Addiction ruins lives, and that is why I have never supported the legalization of drugs.”
When Roger Scott died in April at age 67, the cause was not directly substance abuse, but rather “a life of drugs and alcohol” that affected him deeply, according to the senator.
Roger lived in an apartment in Dallas, Texas, and served a prison sentence in 1990 for a misdemeanor related to possession of dangerous drugs.
Senator Scott, who has also expressed criticism of the legalization of abortion in Florida, lamented his brother’s “hard life,” after stating that it all started with marijuana.
Scott’s position in voting against Amendment 3 aligns with that of other Republicans at the state and national level, who argue that marijuana can be a “gateway” to the use of more dangerous substances.
Marijuana addiction
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has indicated that, although the majority of cannabis users do not go on to consume harder substances, the use of THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, can cause brain changes that increase the predisposition to develop addictions. to other drugs.
The proposed amendment would allow recreational use of marijuana in Florida if it receives 60% or more of the votes in favor in November. This would force the Florida Legislature to establish regulations and a framework for the production and sale of marijuana.
Currently, Florida is one of 38 states that have legalized medical marijuana and would join 24 other states that have legalized its recreational use.
The Florida Republican Party, along with Scott, opposes this amendment. They argue it would benefit powerful special interests in the marijuana industry, put children at risk and negatively impact the state’s family-friendly business and tourism climate.
What the promoters say
On the other hand, Smart & Safe Florida, sponsor of the amendment, defends that legalization would provide necessary “accountability, transparency and regulations”, guaranteeing that legal cannabis is not adulterated with dangerous substances.
For proponents of the amendment, the approval of this reform could be favorable for several reasons. First, legalizing recreational marijuana would allow consumers to purchase cannabis from regulated sources, ensuring that the product is not adulterated with dangerous substances.
This, from the point of view of the promoters of the measure, could reduce the risks associated with the consumption of marijuana obtained on the black market.
Additionally, regulating and controlling the sale of marijuana would generate significant tax revenue for the state, which could be directed toward education, public health, and addiction treatment programs.
Source: AP
