4 February 13-19, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | ▼ NO-FUNSHINE STATE POTSHOT DESANTIS: RECREATIONAL WEED WON’T MAKE 2026 BALLOT. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN O n the heels of defeating the 2024 recreational marijuana ballot initiative, Gov. Ron De- Santis is already mounting his anti-cannabis fight ahead of the 2026 election. When asked about the recreational mari- juana proposal filed last month, the governor said marijuana should not be included in the Florida constitution, emphasizing that “run- of-the-mill policy” should be left to the Flor- ida Legislature. “...[T]he reality is [that] constitution should really be for the structure of govern- ment...for example, limiting tax increases, if you want to empower something,” he said. “There’s a whole bunch of things that you can use it for but run-of-the-mill policy should not be. Now, I know it’s been used for that over the years, but it does not end well. That’s what California has done. They use ballot initiatives and they do all for this policy there and then they end up with a state that is basically ungovernable.” On November 5, Amendment 3, titled “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana,” which would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state constitution, fell short of the 60 percent su- permajority required to pass. Smart & Safe Florida, the same political committee behind the failed amendment bankrolled by the state’s largest marijuana operator Trulieve, filed a new proposal for the 2026 ballot in January. The 2026 proposal remains largely the same as the 2024 version. It would permit those 21-years-old and older to possess and purchase marijuana. It does, however, ad- dress the concerns raised by opponents of the previous initiative, including prohibiting “marketing and packaging of marijuana in a manner attractive to children.” But, DeSantis claimed that the new pro- posal will have “big-time trouble” getting ap- proved by the Florida Supreme Court and will not make it on the ballot as written. He went on to compare trying to get recreational marijuana added to the constitution to asking the authors of the Bill of Rights to include “pregnant pig care.” “Look at the U.S. Constitution, look at the things that have been added to the U.S. Con- stitution. Could you have gone to James Mad- ison in 1792 after the Bill of Rights was passed, ‘Congressman Madison, would you do an amendment for pregnant pig care in the U.S. Constitution,’” DeSantis said. “Of course not. They would have been absurd that an is- sue like that would have been considered in the constitution. These are policy issues.” As DeSantis is currently at odds with the state legislature over immigration policy, he has promised to back all the candidates run- ning against the lawmakers who supported the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act instead of his immigra- tion proposal. He’s now encouraging voters to support candidates that share their views on cannabis rather than rely on ballot initiatives. “If you feel strongly about it, you have elections for the legislature,” he said. “Go back candidates that you believe will be able to deliver what your vision is on that.” Meanwhile, the small-government governor also wants to make the ballot initiative process more difficult. As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, his office sent several proposals to the state legislature making it harder for voters to amend the state constitution. He proposed that people can only sign a petition in person at an elections office or re- quest a petition similar to vote-by-mail. This would eliminate the use of third-party orga- nizers to help collect petition signatures. He also included a directive for the attorney gen- eral to add a “disclosure of material legal ef- fects” about the amendment on the ballot among his several ideas. | RIPTIDE | GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS The seemingly small-government governor doesn’t want voters exercising their rights through ballot initiatives. Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr ▼ MIAMI URINE TROUBLE WOMAN SLIPS ON DOG PEE AT BARK IN THE PARK, SUES MARLINS. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN L ast spring, Luann Hahn attended the Mi- ami Marlins matchup against divisional foe Atlanta Braves. That day, the Marlins happened to be hosting its “Bark in the Park” promotion that invites dog-loving Marlins fans to bring their furry friends to LoanDepot Park to enjoy America’s favorite pastime. But for Hahn, “Bark in the Park” turned into “Slip in the Park.” She says one pup took a tinkle at the ballpark and no one cleaned it up. She evidently didn’t realize that the event could also entail unwelcome encounters with dog pee and is now blaming the team for it. According to a lawsuit filed in December 2024, Hahn was walking around the park on April 24 when she slipped on dog urine and fell to the ground. She is su- ing the Mar- lins, Marlins Stadium Operator LLC, and the City of Miami for dam- ages, which says “exceeds $50,000.” “The existence of the liquid on the floor cre- ated an unreasonable dangerous and unsafe condition,” the complaint reads. Perhaps, Buddy got loose from his owner and had to go potty. But who can blame him? It is a long day for the pooches at the park. Her lawsuit, which the Marlins declined to comment on, contends that she slipped in an area where dogs were prohibited. The eight- page complaint repeats the same claims against the stadium operator, the team, and the city. “That as a direct and proximate result of de- fendant’s negligence, [Hahn] sustained injuries resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfig- urement, mental anguish, loss of the capacity for enjoyment of life, expenses of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, loss of earnings and loss of the ability to earn money in the future, and aggravation of a previously exist- ing condition, if any,” the lawsuit asserts. It is worth noting that Marlins’ tickets include an “Assumption of Risk Related to Personal In- jury And/Or Property Damage” disclaimer. “Holder recognizes that attendance of holder and minor(s) at the event is voluntary and may result in personal injury (including death) and/or property damage and agrees to stay alert and remain aware of his/her surroundings and the surrounding of minors, the ticket’s terms and conditions read. “By using this ticket or by attending, observ- ing, or participating in the event, holder, on be- half of himself/herself and minor(s), acknowledges and assumes all risks and dangers associated with holder and/or minors.” Time will tell if the terms and conditions ex- tend to dog urine. [email protected] “THE EXISTENCE OF THE LIQUID ON THE FLOOR CREATED AN UNREASONABLE DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE CONDITION.”
