Former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall meeting in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on August 29, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski | Afp | Getty Images
Former president Donald Trump said he expected a ballot measure in Florida to legalize marijuana to pass in a new TruthSocial post, but called on the state legislature to create laws to prevent the use of the drug in public.
“In Florida, like so many other States that have already given their approval, personal amounts of marijuana will be legalized for adults with Amendment 3,” the former president wrote, adding, “Whether people like it or not, this will happen through the approval of the Voters, so it should be done correctly. We need the State Legislature to responsibly create laws that prohibit the use of it in public spaces, so we do not smell marijuana everywhere we go, like we do in many of the Democrat run Cities.”
Trump framed his position as one consistent with his “Make America Safe Again” agenda, writing that criminalizing marijuana would “waste Taxpayer Dollars arresting adults with personal amounts of it on them.”
He added, “no one should grieve a loved one because they died from fentanyl laced marijuana. We will make America SAFE again!”
The marijuana ballot measure, if passed, would “allow adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption.”
The state Supreme Court ruled in April to allow the measure on the 2024 ballot.
The post came after Trump’s campaign had to clarify his stance on another ballot measure in Florida, one that would guarantee a constitutional right to abortion in the state.
Florida currently has a six-week abortion ban and on Thursday, Trump told NBC News that the limit is “too short.”
“It has to be more time,” he added.
His comments drew fire from the anti-abortion rights movement, with figures like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America president Marjorie Dannenfelser saying in a statement, “I spoke with President Trump this evening. He has not committed to how he will vote on Amendment 4. President Trump has consistently opposed abortions after five months of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would allow abortion past this point. Voting for Amendment 4 completely undermines his position.”
A day later, on Friday, Trump clarified his remarks, saying, “I’ll be voting no,” on the abortion rights ballot measure.