Jimmy Buffett urging Floridians to vote no on amendment 1. | Floridians for Solar Choice Jimmy Buffett: Just say no to Fla. solar-power plan, yes to medical marijuana

MIAMI — Florida singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett is urging Floridians to vote no on a power company-backed solar-power plan and to vote yes on a medical-marijuana initiative.

In a video recorded of him filling out his Florida vote-by-mail absentee ballot in California, Buffett boiled down his message about the state constitutional amendments 1 and 2 in a bilingual pitch: “No on one. Yes on two. No para uno. Si para dos.”


Amendment 1 has come under increasing criticism because it’s little understood and could trick residents into believing it expands solar-power choices, though it basically enshrines the status quo in the Florida constitution.

Amendment 1 would preserve a right for residents to own or lease solar devices, while prohibiting customers who don't have solar from subsidizing those who do have them.

Just last week, The Miami Herald reported how Sal Nuzzo of the conservative James Madison Institute praised Amendment 1 as “an incredibly savvy maneuver” because it “would completely negate anything they (pro-solar groups) would try to do either legislatively or constitutionally down the road.” After he was caught, Nuzzo claimed he “misspoke.”

Former Vice president Al Gore recently spoke out against Amendment 1 because it would roll back what’s known as “net-metering,” a state rule requiring utilities to pay customers who produce solar energy.

Utilities backing the measure now have donated at least $17 million of the $22.1 million raised by Consumers for Smart Solar, according to POLITICO Florida analysis of campaign finance reports. Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen said their involvement is a red flag for how anti-consumer the amendment is.

“Let the scum shine,” Hiaasen wrote.

In his video message, Buffett was more understated.

“It’s obvious what's going on there,” Buffett says. “We've been enjoying the sun for most of our lives living in Florida. Now it's time to use it right, and use it for everybody's benefit.”

Buffett livened up when it came to Amendment 2, which allows people with debilitating medical conditions access to medical marijuana.

“Amendment 2. Medical marijuana — Duh!” Buffett chuckles.

Opponents of medical marijuana say it’s a backdoor way to outright legalization. Supporters say the amendment is intentionally designed to limit itself to those deemed severely sick by a licensed Florida physician.

Buffett said he used cannabis medically after he had a stage accident in Australia.

“I can tell you from first-hand experience that medical-marijuana is a great cure,” Buffett says.

