Many of them concern abortion, as does Amendment 3 in Missouri.
Florida faces an abortion issue, but its question on the legalization of marijuana is flying a little under the radar. It’s also Amendment 3.
The common denominator is that “yes” votes for either will irreversibly change things in those states.
If enough people vote yes, Florida will legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and older and allow them to possess up to three ounces of marijuana.
Supporters claim passage means jobs and tax revenue on top of a reduction in government spending and more personal freedom.
Jessica Spencer EdD, CAP, CPP is with a campaign called No on 3. Spencer told AFN the amendment is flawed and a bad plan for Florida.
"There is no way to change it, there is no way to make adjustments to it, there's no way to delete things or add things," said Spencer. "It would be forever enshrined in our state constitution as written, and that's a huge problem when we're looking at things like public smoking of marijuana."
Florida vacation may not look the same
The tourist landscape in Florida, beloved by so many, will be forever changed, she said.
If Amendment 3 passes, Spencer said visitors to theme parks, beaches, and other tourist attractions can expect to see pot shops in the area.
"I don't think people come down here to go to amusement parks and have to smell marijuana smoke or go to our beaches and have to smell marijuana smoke," said Spencer. "Our tourism could take a major hit with that (as) you can smoke marijuana in hotels, condos, on the beaches, et cetera."
Mary Catherine Martin, senior counsel for Thomas More Society, tells AFN that Missouri’s Amendment 3, codenamed the ‘Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative,’ is bad news and needs to be rejected.
"Amendment 3 is a train that's bearing down on Missouri, and the reason that it might actually overtake us is that people are not aware of what's within it."
Martin explained it would change the state constitution, creating a permanently new legal situation in Missouri.
'Super right' strengths abortion protection
She said this would add a permanent special status, a quote, "super right" for all matters relating to so-called reproductive healthcare.
"In this case, what we will be doing is building a fortress protecting all matters relating to reproductive healthcare, both of those we currently know about, and everything that's developed in the future."
The amendment text is intentionally confusing. If passed, it will be impossible to alter.
"Not even just healthcare, but all matters relating to it that we will not be able to reverse or limit in the future. So, it's not making a law related to healthcare or even one kind like abortion, it is creating a legal environment where no laws can be made in any matter relating to reproductive healthcare for as a permanent matter in Missouri," Martin said.
