As Florida gears up for a vote on the legalization of marijuana, Hialeah Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco is pushing for a citywide ban on smoking pot in public places. This move comes ahead of the state Amendment 3 on the ballot which could legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. Pacheco is facing opposition from Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, who deems the measure unnecessary, pointing to existing laws that prohibit smoking and vaping in parks.

According to CBS News Miami, Pacheco wants the ban to cover not just parks but also shopping center parking lots and grocery stores. "I want to prohibit smoking marijuana in public places, not just the parks but also parking lots, shopping centers, and grocery stores," Pacheco stated. During an April 9 city meeting, some council members suggested simply adding "marijuana" to the current smoking ordinance, but Pacheco insisted on the need for a separate ordinance.

Mayor Bovo has been critical of Pacheco's efforts, accusing her of seeking publicity. "I know what you're trying to do, you want to create something that is unnecessary, maybe to go on the radio and speak about it," he said during an earlier city meeting, as reported by CBS News Miami. Despite this critique, Pacheco has taken to the streets, recording conversations with residents for her YouTube series "Dime Hialeah," which highlight the pervasive smell of marijuana throughout the city.

Pacheco's outreach has captured various opinions. "Everywhere. Stopped at a red light. In the shopping centers," one Hialeah resident commented on the prevalence of marijuana odor in the city, as reported by Political Cortadito. The councilwoman's campaign paints a picture of a local leader going against political silencing to represent a community concern over public marijuana consumption. A contention that's gaining traction amongst constituents who have also expressed discomfort with the drug's scent in family-friendly environments, including local parks.

This local political skirmish comes as Floridians prepare to vote on Amendment 3 in November 2024, which could fundamentally alter the state's stance on marijuana. According to Political Cortadito, Mayor Bovo has already voiced his opposition to the amendment, and in a statement said he did not support Amendment 3. Meanwhile, Pacheco continues to advocate for her position, telling Political Cortadito, "I am only one vote on the commission, but I can educate, inform, shed light on what they are doing." With the debate over marijuana legality continuing to smolder, Hialeah's political scene becomes a microcosm of the broader conversation happening across the Sunshine State.