[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by blueash

You know that any contractor that wants to buy weed can get himself a medical card with no problem and no disease if he is willing to pay for it, and he can also buy it easily on the illegal market. So if you're worried about how this changes who might show up high, it does not.

But it does free cops from chasing silly pot infractions and running lives because of possession of small amounts. And it gets money away from drug cartels, and avoids fentanyl contamination in street weed, and puts cash into the state treasury.

THC is a far safer drug than alcohol, not 100% safe especially in growing brains but I'd rather my kids get stoned on the weekend than drunk.

Agreed. 26 states plus Guam now legalize marijuana. Why should the state of Florida lose out on the profits that other states are realizing. If legalized, then the Police can concentrate on more important crimes. Also, it would help lower the prison population, which is a high expense for both society and the State of Florida. People high on alcohol tend to be loud and abusive. Not everyone, but a large portion of them. People high on Pot tend to be happy and content. They tend to enjoy music and movies more. A small amount can help concentration. Decriminalization also means that CRIMINALS lose their profits in the marijuana trade AND they don't then get their opportunity to HOOK customers on the REALLY dangerous street drugs. It is effectively a "one-two punch" against street gangs.
........So I did say yes to amendment 3 .......Also, personally I am curious to see that IF it PASSES will there be a noticeable DECREASE in speeding and aggressive driving?
............Marijuana use is good for older people with glaucoma. It can reduce the pain and anxiety for people with cancer.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Thanks for starting this thread.

It truly shows peoples' colors.

Surprised it has survived the political &/or religion sniff test.

Two colors: Red and Blue. Not hard to figure out who is which based on post content. As long as it is not overt, sniff is odorless.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by dougjb

Marijuana usage does not affect driving capability. This is an urban legend promoted by sheriffs so that they can keep their "bust" records high enough to justify the little work that the police do.

Besides, anyone who thinks marijuana use is not already rampant has stuck their head in the sand. Too many of our youth have been arrested for marijuana possession which has broad ramifications for their ability to get a job or enter a profession.

A great majority of our prison population consists of non-violent drug possession cases.Do you really want to continue to have your taxes keep going up so that these "offenders" are off the streets...while so many other "offenders" are using? That makes no sense. We have the largest prison population in the world. It is time to start sorting out the truly dangerous from those whom society simply wants to look down upon.

I agree with your post. Especially about the problem of high incarceration. I disagree that POT does NOT affect driving capability. With large quantities of POT a driver will be affected. But, they will tend to drive SLOWER not faster. In general, I would prefer to be driving on the road and surrounded by heavy POT users than I would heavy ALCOHOL users.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by blueash

Maybe instead of watching anti-choice TV scare ads you might want to actually read the amendment.
Here is the language:
"No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion."

So this amendment continues the Florida requirements that were in place before Roe was overturned. It does not add any new abortion rights that were not in place in Florida. And there absolutely are limits on abortion just back to exactly what it was before Roe was overturned, viability (the ability of the unborn to survive being outside the womb) ends the right to terminate unless the mother's life is endangered.

For a review see the LWV link above or this summary of the honesty of the ads you are seeing Getting the facts on confusing Florida Amendment 4 abortion ads

I believe that Roe was settled law and should NOT have been changed.

[allsport]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I am guessing that half of the Voters in Florida go to the Booth having little knowledge of the Amendment process.

1 The amendments are for a change in the Florida State Constitution.
2 It takes a 60 % affirmative to make the change effective.
3 Who proposed the submittal of the Amendment for vote

The change to the constitution can negate the existing laws by superseding them.

New laws cannot override the constitution.

Given the above, are you ready to vote yes.

As an example, there are current laws against drugs. Amendment 3 wants to legalize Marijuana for more than medical uses.

Comments say that can provide an opportunity for new tax revenue, elimination of bad Marijuana etc.

My question is how I do as an elector get any benefit. Do I want a contractor coming to the house with a Marijuana high? What rights do I have if I suspect he is under the influence, but it is legal. Is my auto mechanic high? Can I get money back if they are not performing correctly. Is there a legal limit or test that would apply to users and responsibility. I know that some would say that the same applies to alcoholics. Well two wrongs don't make a right.

There is no current reason to pass this amendment without knowing how the above will be protected.

Quite frankly, all of the amendments have this flaw. They are special interest solutions to problems not well thought out. Why should we enshrine them in our constitution?

Really, you probably have contractors every day that have had drinks, outlaw boos too?

[Blueblaze]

The issue on both of these two amendments is not the issues they address, but how they are attempting to address it. The reason they are amendments is simply because the proponents have had no success convincing the legislature to change the law. In Florida, the only way to float a direct referendum is a constitutional amendment. But that's like killing flies with a sledgehammer.

Do we really want to create a constitutional right to get stoned? Seriously? I've personally always thought it was dumb to try to outlaw a weed that grows wild in nearly every state in the union. But the only thing dumber would be to declare a constitutional "right" to get high! Weed is already legal, anyway. The last thing we need is make it a "right" that an lawyer could easily argue puts regulation of it beyond the reach of legislature!

And a constitutional "right" to abortion? Seriously? That's absurd! I can't imagine a more stupid thing to put beyond the reach of the legislature than the ability to decide the controversial ethical question of what is and what is not a human life. Both sides have a right to their contradictory opinions, so someone must legislate a compromise between the two equally deadly extremes. You can't just put the entire question beyond reach, in either direction. I personally think 1st trimester abortion ought to be legal, but that doesn't mean I think the law should have nothing to say about what happens to a full term baby. One is abortion -- the other is obviously murder, and that happens to be the opinion of about 70% of all Americans. It wouldn't be so bad if the proponents of this had the honesty to put a number on it. But the word "viable" is meaningless. A lawyer could easily argue that a baby AFTER BIRTH is not "viable" if the mother refuses to raise it!

The correct answer to both these amendments is "NO", regardless of your personal views on the issues they address. If you don't like the way the legislature has already decided these questions, go back and get them to change it -- don't do stupid things to our Constitution just to get your way.

[Pballer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I believe that Roe was settled law and should NOT have been changed.

I also believed that the 1st Amendment was settled law, but apparently the State of Florida is now threatening criminal prosecution of television stations that are airing pro-abortion ads.