Two Florida lawmakers have introduced bills that would tax and legalize marijuana for adults in the state, but the proposals face a tough fight.
HB 1117 and HB 1119 were both introduced on Tuesday. HB 1117 would make it legal for adults over the age of 21 to use marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants. HB 1119 would tax it at $50 an ounce.
One obstacle for the proposals being passed is the governor.
“My thing is that I don’t think it’s good for teenagers and young people to be doing,” Gov. Ron Desantis said.
But the effort is gaining steam. A Gallup poll late last year found two out of three Americans – including a majority of Democrats, Republican and Independents – support legalized adult use of marijuana. Bungled attempts at medical marijuana in other states has lead to legalization.
Advocates for marijuana say it is only a matter of time before a bill is passed
“If we really want to keep it out of the hands of children, we certainly don’t do that when the only access anyone has is through the black market,” Jodi James of the FL Cannabis Action Network said.
During the gubernatorial campaign, Democrat Andrew Gillum argued legal marijuana could raise a billion dollars a year for schools.
