Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is urging Florida voters not to legalize medical marijuana in an upcoming ballot initiative, despite its growing popularity and support in the state.

"Florida leaders and citizens have worked for years to make the Sunshine State a world-class location to start or run a business, a family-friendly destination for tourism and a desirable place to raise a family or retire," said the prospective 2016 GOP presidential candidate in a statement published Thursday by the Tampa Bay Times.

"Allowing large-scale, marijuana operations to take root across Florida, under the guise of using it for medicinal purposes, runs counter to all of these efforts. I believe it is the right of states to decide this issue, and I strongly urge Floridians to vote against Amendment 2 this November," he said.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll shows that 88 percent of Florida voters support the legalization of medical marijuana, including 80 percent of Republicans. Plus, more than half of voters are in favor of granting adults rights to possess small amounts of pot for recreational use.

Ben Pollara, the campaign manager for United for Care, an advocate of the ballot initiative, said that it's "surprising" that the former Republican governor would "take a position so out of step with the voters who twice elected him to the highest office in the state."

In addition to voicing his opposition, Bush has also aligned with a coalition that is against the measure, which includes the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, and the Florida Trucking Association.

In order to become legal, 60 percent of voters must support Amendment 2 in November.

According to People United for Medical Marijuana, the measure "Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients' medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law," the Huffington Post reported.

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