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.