Florida Sen. Rick Scott says he'll vote against recreational pot after brother's death

[Zorro]

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida says he'll be voting in November against a ballot amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in his state, a deeply personal decision based on his brother's long history of addiction.

The senator and former Florida governor said he watched his brother Roger Scott begin smoking marijuana as a teenager and then struggle with substance use for the rest of life.

“People end up with addictive personalities, and so he did,” Scott said in an interview. “It messes up your life, and so that’s why I’ve never supported legalization of drugs.”

When Roger Scott died in April at 67, the cause wasn't substance abuse, but rather “a life of drugs and alcohol” catching up with him, the senator said. He had lived in an apartment in Dallas, Texas, where he served jail time in 1990 on a misdemeanor conviction of possessing dangerous drugs, court records show.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-sen-rick-scott-says-040927686.html

I can imagine just being Rick Scott's brother would be enough to drive one to find ways to escape.

[Blue Owl]

1. Bat Boy sighted at screening of Reefer Madness

?1

[33taw]

2. He would feel this way regardless.

[LearnedHand]

3. I don't support that asshoke at all, but

I sort of understand how he could feel this way. Several of my family members have struggled with various substance addictions. Even though I think legalizing everything is a more humane way to go, I also understand the knee jerk reaction to never legalize anything.

[Walleye]

4. I guess he never read about the history of alcohol prohibition in the 20s

[maptap22]

5. Then they need to outlaw alcohol....

That’s the real gateway drug. Growing up, everyone drank before smoking pot or doing drugs.

[progressoid]

12. Yep. And cigarettes.

[marble falls]

6. The myth of "gateway" drugs. Somewhere I've read 30% of heroin addicts started on pot ...

... but almost 100% drank milk starting in youth.

Rick Scott wants to harsh my high because his brother was a degenerate. Why didn't Rick take care of his brother?

[TwilightZone]

11. Being an addict doesn't automatically make him a degenerate.

Addiction is a disease, not a personality disorder.

[marble falls]

17. Don't tell me, tell Ricky. We're all addicted to something.

[TwilightZone]

21. Degenerate was your word, not Scott's.

Nice try, no sale. Don't blame Scott for your ridiculous, misguided assertions.

[snowybirdie]

14. Come on

Calling someone a degenerate shows a really poor knowledge of addiction and substance abuse. You need to learn before someone close to you is addicted.

[marble falls]

18. Oh come on, yourself. You don't know me well enough to speculate anything. I'm going by Rick Scotts description.

[MOMFUDSKI]

7. Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug.

Nice try. Stupidity just runs in that family

[Faux pas]

8. Ignorance

is only blissful for the ignorant.

[bringthePaine]

9. so...shameless refuKKKchicken tries to leverage his brother's death...surprise!🖕🏻

[SamKnause]

10. Fuck you and your lies.

[2naSalit]

13. Because these substances are illegal...

They all end up being considered "gateway drugs" A lot of the allure but also the psychological hoop jump one goes through to acquire their stash play into the whole nightmare of addiction and the accompanying behavior. Legalization also enhances regulation... food for thought.

[Irish_Dem]

15. For the GOP it is always about themselves. Me Me Me.

They are incapable of understanding or doing any thing for the public good.

[rubbersole]

16. Countries that don't criminalize addiction have a much smaller problem than we do.

The liquor industry has kept marijuana a class 1 drug forever. Hemp was feared by dupont when they started selling nylon rope. Competition is for sissies.

[Turbineguy]

19. Good thinking. Don't dress before you shower either.

[JoseBalow]

20. In other news, masturbation leads to rape