Res No 069-19-15341RESOLUTION NO.: 69-19-15341
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami
supporting the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
WHEREAS, there has been a shift in the public opinion regarding marijuana use; and
WHEREAS, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2018 found that 62% of
Americans say that the use of marijuana should be legalized, and the numbers have been steadily
increasing since 2000 when only 3 1 % of Americans were in favor of legalizationi; and
WHEREAS, currently, 10 states and the District of Colombia have legalized marijuana for
recreational use and 13 states have decriminalized marijuana for recreational use 2; and
WHEREAS, in Florida, marijuana for medical use has been legalized but recreational use
remains illegal; and
WHEREAS, the government in Florida is beginning to recognize the importance of
marijuana as a growth industry with the potential to develop Florida's hemp industry; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner,
Nicole "Nikki" Fried, announced her appointment of Holly Bell as Florida's first ever Cannabis
Director on February 6, 2019; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the Tax Foundation estimated that states would potentially reap
billions in tax revenue if they moved to a `legalize -and -tax regime' — a 20% sales tax across the
board. The estimated annual tax revenue for Florida is $446 million 3; and
WHEREAS, the Tax Foundation found that Colorado marijuana tax revenues greatly
exceeded original estimates of $70 million per year4; and
WHEREAS, marijuana taxes, licenses, and fee revenues collected by the State of Colorado
have been steadily increasing since 2014. In 2018, the annual revenue was $266,529,637 and the
cumulative total in marijuana taxes, licenses, and fee revenue since retail marijuana sales began in
February 2014 to February 2019 is $948,791,5265; and
WHEREAS, on February 12, 2018, the results of poll taken by the Public Opinion Research
Lab at the University of North Florida showed that 45% of Floridians strongly support legalizing
and regulating marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, limiting its sale to residents 21 years of age
or older, and 17% of Floridians somewhat support it6; and
' https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/08/americans-support-marijuana-legalization/
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction
3 https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/oct/26/marijuana-legalization-5-charts/
a https://taxfoundation.org/marijuana-taxes-lessons-colorado-washington/
s https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/revenue/colorado-marijuana-tax-data
6 https://www.unfedu/coas/porl/2018FLSpringPoII2.aspx
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WHEREAS, the legislation concerning the recreational use of marijuana needs to be
changed and updated to reflect the growing social acceptance of marijuana and to benefit from the
potential revenue that will be generated by a `legalize -and -tax regime'.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. The Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami hereby supports
the legalization of marijuana for recreational use for people 21 years of age and older and those who
distribute to minors shall pay a hefty fine.
Section 2. The City Clerk shall forward a copy of this Resolution to: Governor Ronald Dion
DeSantis; State Senate President; State Speaker of the House; Florida Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services Commissioner, Nicole "Nikki" Fried; Florida Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services Commissioner, Director of Cannabis, Holly Bell; all municipalities in
Miami -Dade County; the members of the governing bodies of all 67 counties; the Florida Cabinet;
the Florida League of Cities; members of the Miami -Dade Legislative Delegation; and all members
of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 3: Severability. If any section, clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4. Effective Date: This resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of May, 2019.
ATTEST:
L' OL { C
CITY CL RK
AS TO FORM
A30 EXECUTION
APPROVED:
COMMISSION VOTE: 4-1
Mayor Stoddard:
Yea
Vice Mayor Harris:
Yea
Commissioner Welsh:
Yea
Commissioner Liebman:
Nay
Commissioner Gil:
Yea
Page 2 of 2
Agenda Item No:6.
City Commission Agenda item Report
Meeting Date: May 21, 2019
Submitted by: Thomas Pepe
Submitting Department: City Attorney
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section:
Subject:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami supporting the legalization of
marijuana for recreational use. 3/5 (Vice Mayor Harris)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
Reso re Legalization of Recreational Marjivana.docx
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