Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith has endorsed Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older, according to 104.5 WOKV.
Sheriff Gordon spoke exclusively with Action News Jax on Monday about his decision to become the first conservative sheriff in the state to publicly support Amendment 3.
“I’ve probably incarcerated more people for misdemeanor amounts of marijuana than anybody else. I’m tough on crime,” said Smith. However, Smith says he recent witnessed his brother, a war veteran, experience strong benefits from using medical cannabis, which has shifted his opinion on marijuana.
“Getting a medical marijuana card has made him a human being again, where I can pick up the phone and call and talk things he could never talk about before,” said Smith. “I just think we need to refocus our efforts. Regulate it. Take the sin tax. Put it toward the effort of education”.
Smith said that legalization will also reduce instances of laced products by regulating marijuana and what’s put into it.
Smith’s support is contrary to that of the Florida Sheriffs Association, which officially opposes Amendment 3.
Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith.
If approved by voters on November 5, Amendment 3 would allow those 21 and older to possess and use up to three ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates, purchasable via a licensed marijuana retail outlet. According to polling released earlier this month by Emerson College, 64% of likely voters in Florida support Amendment 3,.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, Smart & Safe Florida has raised $101,358,827.54 for Amendment 3, quadruple any previous statewide marijuana legalization effort.
