A group pushing for the legalization of marijuana in Florida has launched a statewide ad campaign, warning people about the dangers of buying black-market cannabis.
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The main message? Black-market weed could be laced with fentanyl, a powerful opioid that’s been driving a deadly overdose epidemic.
“I’ve seen it firsthand,” says Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young in a 30-second TV ad that’s airing during primetime. In the ad, Sheriff Young advocates for Amendment 3, a measure on the November ballot that would legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. He argues that legal pot would be regulated, lab-tested, and safer.
But while concerns over fentanyl are very real, many experts are skeptical about the idea that marijuana is being tainted with the drug. According to several authorities involved in battling the opioid crisis, there’s little to no evidence that fentanyl-laced marijuana is an actual issue.
Experts Weigh In
Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a forensic toxicologist at the University of Florida who closely tracks overdose trends, isn’t convinced. “I am not aware of any definitive finding related to marijuana fortified with fentanyl,” he said. While reports have popped up over the years, Goldberger said that none of these claims have been confirmed.
Even some organizations, like the Partnership to End Addiction, call the idea of fentanyl-laced marijuana a myth. They argue that it wouldn’t make sense for drug dealers to mix the expensive opioid with cheaper cannabis. Not to mention, fentanyl would likely burn up if smoked, rendering it ineffective.
Still, Amendment 3 supporters maintain that without legalization, there’s no way to know what’s in the marijuana sold on the streets. If the measure passes, they say, it will ensure consumers have access to regulated and tested products.
Is There Fentanyl in Florida’s Marijuana?
Sheriff Young has pointed to a series of fatal overdoses in Gadsden County, claiming that fentanyl-laced marijuana was to blame for at least six deaths during the Fourth of July weekend in 2022. However, his office has been tight-lipped about the details, citing an ongoing investigation. Medical examiner reports showed that while fentanyl and cocaine were found in the victims’ systems, the presence of marijuana was less clear.
Young is one of the few sheriffs in Florida to openly support Amendment 3. He, along with the campaign, has linked these tragic deaths to tainted marijuana, hoping to make a case for why legalizing and regulating cannabis is necessary to prevent such incidents.
But other officials, like Kim Cannaday from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, say they haven’t encountered any cases of fentanyl-laced marijuana. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which typically tests large marijuana seizures, hasn’t weighed in on the matter either.
Legal Pot: A Safer Option?
The argument from Amendment 3 supporters boils down to one key point: legal weed is safer weed. They say that if Florida legalizes recreational marijuana, it will be held to the same strict standards as medical marijuana. Currently, medical pot is tested for everything from pesticides to heavy metals at labs like Modern Canna in Lakeland.
“At the core, that’s what Amendment 3 does,” said Steve Vancore, a spokesman for Smart & Safe Florida, the group leading the legalization push. “It says, ‘Let’s take it off the streets and put it into a safer, regulated market, where it can be lab-tested for safety.’”
Although Amendment 3 doesn’t specifically mention testing requirements, supporters believe the Florida Legislature would extend the same regulations used for medical marijuana to recreational products.
If passed, Florida would join 24 other states in legalizing recreational marijuana. Polls show mixed results, with some indicating Amendment 3 could surpass the 60% vote threshold needed to pass, while others suggest it may fall short.
What’s Really Driving Overdose Concerns?
As concerns over fentanyl continue to grow, it’s important to note that most of the focus is on the drug being mixed with substances like cocaine, heroin, and counterfeit pills – not marijuana.
Andrae Bailey, founder of Project Opioid, an advocacy group in Orlando, acknowledges that while there have been some reports of fentanyl-laced pot, it’s not a major part of Florida’s opioid crisis. “It is not in any way a meaningful part of the opioid crisis in Florida,” he said, adding that other substances, like cocaine, pose a far greater threat when mixed with fentanyl.
Ultimately, while fentanyl is undoubtedly dangerous, many experts feel there are more pressing reasons to support the legalization of marijuana than fears about tainted cannabis.
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