Twenty years after ending his NFL career due to a marijuana ban, the former Miami Dolphins running back and current NFL Hall of Famer candidate and pot entrepreneur Ricky Williams supports Amendment 3 to legalize cannabis in Florida.

Smart & Safe FloridaThe campaign pushing for Amendment 3 to be voted on in November announced Williams’ support for the amendment, which would decriminalize marijuana in Florida for people 21 and older.

“I know firsthand the exclusionary and paralyzing effects that criminalizing cannabis can have,” Williams said in a statement.

“I want to share my experiences, end the unjust criminalization and prejudice against cannabis, and help Florida achieve the same level of freedom that more than half the country already enjoys. We can do that by voting yes this November.”

Williams, a long-time cannabis user and activist, made headlines as Dolphin in 2004 when he retired for a year after the NFL suspended him for violating the league’s drug policy. He returned the following year after paying the fines, but despite his excellent performance on the field, problems related to his marijuana use persisted.

Williams – who officially changed his last name to that of his wife in 2022, Linnea Miron — has long been an advocate for the legalization and medical benefits of cannabis. The College Football Hall of Fame inductee and Heisman Trophy winner has its own brand, HighsmanHe has also advocated for the NFL Offer players cannabis treatment for their suffering instead of opioids.

He joins a growing list of notable figures expressing their support for Amendment 3, including former President Donald TrumpBoxing legend Mike TysonFounder of Barstool Sports Dave PortnoyRapper Wiz KhalifaRepublican Senator. Joe GrutersDemocratic Senator. Shevrin JonesDemocratic Mayor of Jacksonville Donna DeeganDemocratic Sheriff of Gadsden County Morris Young and Democratic Attorney of Broward County Harold Pryor.

Groups supporting the measure include Athletes for Care, ACLU of Florida, Florida Democratic Party, SEIU Florida and the Libertarian Party of Florida.

Spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida Morgan Hill said Williams’ story was “an important case study that shows why passage of Amendment 3 is an important, long-needed step forward for Florida.”

“No one deserves to have their life changed because they use marijuana,” Hill said. “We are grateful for their support and look forward to continuing to build this large coalition behind the legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use in Florida.”

Amendment 3 must receive at least 60% of the votes in the vote on 5 November to be adopted. Opinion poll shows Support is at or near this threshold.

The Republican Party of Florida, Governor. Ron DeSantis and other senior state officials, including the Attorney General Ashley Moodyare fighting the proposal and calling on voters to reject it. This includes a counter-campaign, Keep Florida cleanled by James Uthmeierthe governor’s chief of staff.

The Florida Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Associations are also against Amendment 3as well as the billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffinthe promised to spend $12 million to prevent the measure.

Post views: 0