Medical marijuana supporters in Florida saw a powerful opponent step into the dispute Thursday when former Governor Jeb Bush came out against Amendment 2 to legalize medical marijuana.
Bush issued a statement detailing his opposition that 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," according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The statement continued, “Allowing the large-scale, marijuana operations to take root across Florida, under the guise of using it for medicinal purposes, runs counter to all of these efforts. I believe it is the right of states to decide this issue, and I strongly urge Floridians to vote against Amendment 2 this November.”
Bush’s opposition comes as he is contemplating a run for the presidency in 2016. His opposition to Amendment 2 is in line with Senator Marco Rubio, who has previously said he opposed the medical marijuana amendment.
The amendment will go to the voters in November’s election.
