Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon, who was appointed by Gov. Rick DeSantis, claims there are no low-level marijuana offenders in Florida prisons and that legalizing the drug would pose a risk to public health.
Dixon recently wrote an op-ed that appeared in Tampa Bay Times, calling for Florida voters to reject legalizing cannabis in November. He said pro-cannabis activists have been intentionally lying about the amount of inmates serving time for low-level marijuana offenses in Florida prisons. He claims that there are no prisoners behind bars in Florida that were arrested for possessing 20 grams of marijuana or less and that Florida law forbids such an arrest.
“The narrative being promoted by some activists that individuals are imprisoned solely for minor marijuana possession is a lie,” wrote Dixon.
Dixon said that there are currently only 37 individuals serving prison sentences for the primary offense of possessing more than 20 grams of cannabis and that all of these individuals had their sentences enhanced by either an extensive criminal record or severe accompanying crimes.
Dixon wrote that he believed legalizing cannabis would lead to more traffic fatalities and emergency room visits, which would in turn lead to more people being incarcerated.
NJ to consider case of cop fired for weed use
This month, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission is expected to hear the case of a police officer who was fired for off-duty cannabis use.
Former Jersey City police officer Mackenzie Reilly was fired from the force in August 2023, after a urine test returned positive for THC. He and four other officers are fighting cannabis-related terminations. All five are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Jersey City against the state of New Jersey that seeks to overturn the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis.
New Jersey legalized cannabis in 2021, and the state attorney general said police officers cannot be disciplined for using marijuana while off duty. But Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025, has refused to comply with the state’s directives and is not allowing the city’s police to use marijuana.
The Civil Service Commission has already ordered the city to reinstate two of the five terminated officers, but it is unclear if they’ve been rehired. The commission is set to hear Reilly’s case some time this month. The judge overseeing the lawsuit declined to make a decision on the case until all five officers have gone through hearings with the commission.
Iowa THC drink companies drop lawsuit
Two Iowa THC-infused beverage manufacturers have dropped a lawsuit against the state that sets a THC limit for consumable hemp products.
In June, Field Day Brewing Co. and Climbing Kites filed the suit claiming the state’s Department of Health and Human Services is improperly interpreting a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp consumables.
Both companies decided to drop the suit earlier this month and have reportedly reformulated their drinks to contain an amount of THC that is under the new limits.
Field Day Brewing Co. told reporters that it will not be moving forward with another lawsuit at this time.