2024 presidential candidate, Florida Govenor Ron DeSantis, has stated he would not federally decriminalise cannabis if elected.
At a campaign event, Mr DeSantis was asked to decriminalise cannabis for veterans. He responded by explaining that he didn’t think he would and that some people abuse cannabis.
Stating that veterans were in fact allowed access, DeSantis suggested that cannabis could be very dangerous, as there was the possibility it could be laced with fentanyl: “It’s very controversial because obviously there’s some people that abuse it and are using it recreationally but I will say this: Nationally, or even on the local level, this stuff is very powerful now that they’re putting on the street. And when these kids do it, it’s really bad for the youth. And I just think we have to be very united as a society.
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“We want our kids to stay clear of drugs, and we don’t want to do policies that’s going to make it have easier access for them. You don’t even know what they’re putting in some of this stuff. Now, because you have things like fentanyl, that can wind up and so if you do something with that, it could be good night, right then and there and you could die just by ingesting that. So, I think that that’s problematic.”
Marijuana Moment highlights that “DeSantis didn’t acknowledge that creating a regulatory regime where marijuana is subject to testing before consumers can buy it could mitigate instances of contamination.”
Cannabis reform advocate and former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told the publication that “Ron doesn’t care what the people want,” pointing out that polling currently shows widespread public support for cannabis legalization and decriminalization among Floridians.
