Jeb Bush joined the opponents of a proposal on the November election ballot to legalize medical marijuana in Florida in spite of the strong support it gained from the public.

In a statement issued Thursday, the ex-Florida Republican governor said legalizing medical marijuana would destroy the state's reputation as a family-friendly state. The public, however, strongly support the initiative for the treatment of debilitating diseases, Reuters detailed.

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Bush said allowing "large-scale" marijuana firms to enter Florida would destroy years of effort to make the state a world-class place for business, family and retirement. He also called the objective of using marijuana for medicinal purposed as merely a "guise."

Bush, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, urged the citizens of Florida to oppose Amendment 2 in the coming polls.

In spite of weeks of continuous campaigns by opponents of the proposal, support for the legalization of marijuana in Florida remains at 88 percent, based on a survey released last month. Out of the respondents, only 10 percent said they would vote against the measure.

The said poll also revealed that 55 percent of Florida voters approve of the recreational use of marijuana among adults, with 41 percent opposing the idea.

Ben Pollara, the campaign manager for United for Care, an organization leading the marijuana legalization effort in the state, conveyed his surprise at Bush's opposition. He said Bush went against the citizens who elected him twice as governor of Florida.

At present, there are 20 states plus the District of Columbia that permit the use of medical marijuana.

In June, Florida Governor Rick Scott approved that allowed state residents to use Charlotte's Web, a non-euphoric marijuana strain, to treat epilepsy, seizure-causing conditions and cancer. The special marijuana strain is an oil extract that cannot be used for smoking.

If voters approve the amendment, doctors could prescribe marijuana more broadly for the treatment of certain debilitating diseases.

TagsJeb Bush, Florida, Reuters, United for Care, Ben Pollara, District of Columbia, marijuana, Charlotte's Web