Marijuana and abortion are on the ballot

Two of the most contentious pieces of legislation in Florida’s upcoming general election are Amendments 3 and 4.

As the Nov. 5 election draws near, many people are sounding off about the two amendments and what they mean for the state’s future.

Students like Jordan Hampstead, junior business administration major, feel the issue of abortion is difficult.

“I still feel like it’s a life, but it’s up to the parent at the end of the day on what they think the circumstance really is,” Hampstead said. “I would say it was complicated growing up, but as I’ve gotten older, I lean more towards pro-life because I just see it as a life.”

Amendment 4 would protect the right to abortion before viability or in cases where the patient is at risk.

“Amendment 4 says that women have a right to make decisions regarding their bodies right up until the point of viability, so that means up until usually 23 weeks,” said Vicki Toscano, associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics.

Toscano’s background in abortion law informs her views on the subject. She considers this election to be a big moment for reproductive rights in Florida.

“If Amendment 4 were to pass, it would be a constitutional amendment, which the legislature can’t change. The only people who could change it would be the voters,” Toscano said. “It would basically bring things back to where they were before the Dobbs case overturned Roe v. Wade.”

Views on marijuana legalization were less polarizing across campus. If passed, Amendment 3 would allow anyone older than the age of 21 to possess no more than three ounces of marijuana. Students generally leaned in favor of the legislation, such as Kaylani Arnold, freshman psychology major, citing its medicinal use as a deciding factor.

“I come from a family, especially on my father’s side, he battled a bunch of substance abuse issues with nicotine and alcohol, but seeing him switch over to cannabis actually helped him in a way,” Arnold said.

While some students are warm to the idea of marijuana legalization, they are cognizant of the potential dangers that come with increased access.

“I have one side [of my family] that is medical, so I understand it, and I have one side that is strictly recreational, but it’s like chain-smoking recreational, so, at that point, it’s kind of not as helpful, because seeing someone spark a blunt every two minutes is concerning,” Arnold said.

Some, like Giavanna Vassalluzzo, freshman marine biology major, hold the belief that criminalizing the substance does more harm than good.

“Most weed that is sold in states where it is illegal, people get it off the street or at smoke shops where the source is unreliable, and they have no way of knowing where it came from, leading it to then possibly be laced,” Vassalluzzo said.

There is an understanding that the issue of legalization isn’t a simple one.

“It’s not like having it be illegal means people can’t still have access to it. It’s a lot easier to get if it’s legal, so it could go into the wrong hands, but either way, people are going to find ways to do it, so having it legalized just makes it easier for those who do need it,” said Mack, freshman mathematics major.