By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that if Amendment 3, passes, you could still be arrested for Marijuana possession or use?
If passed, and under Amendment 3, the Florida Legislature would still need to pass laws to establish guidelines for recreational marijuana, including regulations on public consumption and use. Currently, smoking tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited in most public places and workplaces in Florida, and it is most likely, that similar restrictions would apply to recreational marijuana consumption.
The Florida Legislature would also still need to pass laws to establish guidelines regarding appropriate age of use. This means, those under 21 years-old would be prohibited from marijuana use and parents could be prosecuted if children under 18 years-old are caught using marijuana, or THC laced products.
Additionally, even if Amendment 3 passes, it is important to note that law enforcement would still have the discretion to enforce existing laws and regulations regarding marijuana use, including public consumption. This means that you could still be arrested and charged for violation any of these laws, even if recreational marijuana/THC is legalized.
You should be aware that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has already identified and confiscated 1.1 million packages of hemp products from shelves since June 2023 due to violations of state law. This same department has also pursued criminal charges for hemp products that exceed the legal limit for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency.