BY IBRAHEMPOVIC ON AUGUST 20, 2014
In a recent statement, Jeb Bush says he opposes Florida’s proposed constitutional amendment that would make pot legal for specific medical conditions. Bush says the amendment, which will allow for the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician, will hinder Florida’s tourism industry, and make Florida an uninviting place for families and businesses.
Bush said Florida leaders and citizens have worked for years to make the Sunshine State a world-class location to start or run a business, a family-friendly destination for tourism and a desirable place to raise a family or retire. He considers the amendment for medical pot just a guise that will allow for large-scale marijuana operations to take root across Florida.
Bush’s statement comes at a time when public opinion of marijuana is softening. A recent CNN poll found 55% of respondents believe marijuana should be legalized. Even as early as October of last year, polled Americans have favored legalized pot. 88% of polled respondents in Bush’s own state support medical marijuana. 55% of those polled in Florida said they’d favor legalized recreational pot, as well. Bush’s statement also runs counter to tourism industry numbers from Washington and Colorado.
And by backing the VoteNoOn2? initiative, Bush has jumped fully aboard the marijuana propaganda bandwagon: the anti-legalization group has likened edible marijuana to Rufalin.
Bush’s statement on tourism refers only to keeping Florida’s tourism industry family-friendly, which is understandable. While cannabis does cause an increase in tourismHotels.com has found mini-surges in travel arrangements to cities like Seattle and Denvermedical marijuana does not.