JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two of Jacksonville’s most well-known public figures have taken different stances on an issue voters are facing – recreational marijuana.
Mayor Donna Deegan spoke out Saturday in favor of Amendment 3, to legalize recreational marijuana, whereas Sheriff T.K. Waters is against it.
In just three months, voters will be at precincts to decide how they feel about legalized marijuana.
One thing they can take with them into the ballot box – the two cents from a couple of local officials.
Waters made his thoughts on marijuana known earlier this week at a town hall in Arlington.
“I think it's the absolute wrong thing to do in our community. Just because people think it's fun to smoke weed, doesn't mean that it should be legal," said Waters.
He formalized his stance in a statement Saturday, saying in part “It will make neighborhoods and roadways less safe and our families less healthy.”
First Coast News Political Analyst Andrew Pantazi says Waters will be able to reference the stance he took if legalized marijuana leads to JSO making policy or staffing changes as a result.
“Whether this leads to a shift in resources for the sheriff’s office toward more traffic enforcement to deal with impaired driving, he can say, ‘Look, I’m having to shift resources. I opposed it. This is one of the reasons why I opposed it,' said Pantazi. "He can go back to it and use it.”
Mayor Donna Deegan is on the other side of the aisle, sharing in a statement: “People shouldn't be jailed and caught up in the system for small amounts that are for personal consumption. There should still be laws in place that regulate the time, place, and manner for appropriate usage.”
“Elected leaders and candidates have been much more hesitant to support legalization than what you would expect based on polling," said Pantazi. "Mayor Deegan, as the mayor of the largest city in the state, is significant in the sense that, ‘Here’s someone willing to support something where many people are not.’”
Although two of Jacksonville’s most well-known figures announced their positions, Pantazi doesn’t think many voters are on the fence about how they feel about the green stuff.
“This is one where voters tend to know where they land," said Pantazi. "I don’t think there’s a lot of movement, but I think it speaks to both of their characters that they’re speaking out on an issue and willing to take a stance.”
Pantazi pointed out many lawmakers are already thinking about how this will be enforced when it happens.
A Sarasota senator filed a bill to ban smoking in public places statewide.
Waters' full statement on Amendment 3:
"As a 33-year law enforcement officer and your elected Sheriff, I will always oppose policies that put the health and safety of Jacksonville's children and families at risk, including Amendment 3.
In states where marijuana has been legalized recreationally, we've seen a rise in drugged driving incidents, an increase in emergency room visits, and a surge in marijuana-related crimes. The negative consequences on public safety are clear.
Amendment 3 will lead to more addiction, impaired driving, and crime. It will make neighborhoods and roadways less safe and our families less healthy. For these reasons, I strongly oppose Amendment 3 and urge our citizens to do the same.”
Deegan's full statement on Amendment 3:
“I support Amendment 3. People shouldn't be jailed and caught up in the system for small amounts that are for personal consumption. There should still be laws in place that regulate the time, place, and manner for appropriate usage. All in all, people should be free from government interference if they aren't putting the public in danger or disrupting the community."