We lately kicked off our collection of posts grading the presidential candidates on their hashish stances (take a look at the primary put up, on Joe Biden). Right now we flip to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who as of January 8 was a distant second within the race for the nomination to frontrunner Donald Trump. However with Trump going through quite a lot of challenges that might, maybe, derail his plans for a second time period, the prospect of a DeSantis nomination for the White Home can’t be dominated out.
Total Grade: C+
Again in 2022, when he was campaigning for his second time period as governor, we famous that “DeSantis has made it clear that he doesn’t help legalization, although he has ‘instructed he was in favor of decriminalizing marijuana.’” On the identical time, we warned in opposition to anticipating any daring strikes on the problem as DeSantis turned his consideration to the nationwide stage and displaying off his conservative bona fides.
As we get near the beginning of major season, we should say that DeSantis is exceeding our — admittedly low — expectations in the case of hashish. Lately, DeSantis declared that “he’d honor state-level choices on [cannabis] within the occasion he’s elected President.” That’d be an amazing begin: Respect for states’ rights is absolutely all we want in the case of hashish from the federal authorities. In precept, a President DeSantis ought to be amenable to the concept of curbing Washington’s energy, particularly its overreach in the case of regulating interstate commerce. (After all, we’d should see how President Ron feels about federal energy as soon as its levers are at his disposal, or when the rights in query are these of states ideologically unaligned with him.)
Why DeSantis Doesn’t Get a B- or B
The more moderen iteration of DeSantis on hashish is likely to be deserving of a B-, even perhaps a B, if solely by the use of encouraging the governor. Nonetheless, his grade needs to be docked on account of his seeming incapability to deal with hashish points with out some dig or canard, both complaining in regards to the smell, scaremongering about fentanyl-laced hashish, or snidely referring to medical use as a “pretext” on the a part of some to get excessive. He comes off as a man who cares extra about letting he’s in opposition to legalization than in regards to the precise prospect of legalization. The identical most likely goes for his gripes in regards to the Noles being left off the School Soccer Playoff — Go Blue, by the best way.
Extra severely, below DeSantis’ watch, there was a whole-of-government effort to second-guess Floridians in the case of leisure hashish legalization. His legal professional basic, Ashley Moody, has led mindless crusades in opposition to poll initiatives on the topic (probably inspired by the state Supreme Courtroom’s receptiveness previously to persnickety arguments over the language in these initiatives). In the meantime, just a few days in the past a bill was launched within the Florida Home to restrict THC quantities within the occasion the poll initiative passes. We perceive that the AG and legislators are elected officers unbeholden to the governor, however DeSantis may a minimum of specific help for the concept it ought to be as much as Sunshine State voters to resolve whether or not adult-use hashish ought to be authorized — which by the best way can be completely constant together with his imaginative and prescient of Florida as “freedom’s vanguard.” His failure to take action suggests that he’s, at a minimal, untroubled by the AG’s undemocratic efforts.
Conclusion
DeSantis’ disparaging feedback about hashish and acquiescence in efforts to stop Floridians from voting on legalization imply that he can’t get something increased than a C-. Whereas his framing of hashish as a states’ rights situation is encouraging, there’s nothing in his file to recommend that DeSantis would transfer to alter the federal prohibitionist framework that hinders the event of authorized hashish industries on the state stage. That mentioned, there’s a minimum of the likelihood {that a} DeSantis Administration would strike a compromise that lays down some vivid strains for states and their hashish industries. Obaman half-measures are hardly one thing to get enthusiastic about, however coming from Ron DeSantis, that wouldn’t be too unhealthy, wouldn’t it?