(Meidas Touch Network)—“In two major rulings today, the Florida Supreme Court has agreed to keep two ballot initiatives, one dealing with abortion rights in the state, and the second dealing with recreational use of marijuana, on the state’s ballot this November. Previously, both ballot initiatives were challenged in court, and the challenges were supported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. The primary argument against the initiatives were that they were too vague for average citizen to understand the language of the ballot summary.
The first initiative, titled “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion” also known as Amendment 4, would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution, specifically stating that “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability.” Read the court’s ruling on Amendment 4 below:
https://www.scribd.com/document/719079063/Opinion-SC2023-0682
The second initiative, titled “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana,” also known as Amendment 3, “allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption.” Read the court’s ruling on Amendment 3 below:
https://www.scribd.com/document/719079064/Opinion-SC2023-0682
The ruling today will allow the initiatives to remain on the Florida ballot this November. Although the ruling is a major win for abortion activists and pro-marijuana activists, it is not the end. For the initiatives as to pass, more than 60% of Floridians need to vote in favor during the elections.”
Not often do you think of Florida and good news in the same thought. But this is one of those rare situations where the two actually converge. Despite the best efforts of “Meatball” Ron Desantis and his Republican colleagues, the voting electorate, not old White politicians will get to decide the fate of Abortion Healthcare Rights and recreational marijuana usage. So Power to the people indeed!
Desantis’s objection to the ballot initiative was that Floridians were too incompetent to understand what the measure’s intended. Although Florida isn’t what you’d call a hotbed for the “Mensa” community they do deserve some credit. Even the slightest functioning brain, can figure out the meaning behind “Amendment to Limit Government Interference With Abortion”. So today’s ruling was not only a huge victory for Women’s Rights and Pot Head’s alike. It was also a referendum on the combined intellect of the people living in the Sunshine State. So Bravo to my Floridian friends and followers!!
Now getting to the 60% threshold may be challenging. But I am still confident in the ability of Women and Democrats to unify around such a worthy cause. Florida was once a blue then purple state not too long before it became the red state it is today. We’ve seen states with longer histories of voting conservative, flip instantly when reproductive rights were on the ballot. It’s unlike any other political policy issue, that any of us, have witnessed before.
With these ballot initiatives being decided in November’s general election. It may have unintended positive impacts for the Biden campaign if voter turnout is increasingly Democratic. Another positive outcome, of this Abortion Rights Amendment passing. It allows Women throughout the Southern United States to have a nearby place to undergo necessary reproductive care. Currently, Women in the South have to go as far west as New Mexico before they can legally access abortions, which is ridiculous.
Today’s Court decision could profoundly change the political landscape and strengthen the democratic freedoms in Florida, the Southern US, and America as a whole. Overwhelmingly, women but also supporting men strongly believe in this foundational principle. The country is now depending upon Floridians to make the necessary choice in November. Maybe this is just the opportunity Florida deserves to flip the current negativity, surrounding its collective competency. Florida no longer being a punchline may be a setback for political jokesters like myself, but a gigantic step forward for the overall good of society.
Click the link below for the Meidas Touch Network article quoted in this column
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