DeSantis’ $50 million anti-legalization blitz

FLORIDA
DeSantis and the anti-Amendment 3 campaign’s last minute push

Driving the news: The fight over legalization in Florida has become a bitter proxy battle between supporters of Donald Trump, who supports Amendment 3 — the ballot measure to legalize cannabis in the state — and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who vehemently does not.

It’s one of the most expensive and closely watched cannabis-related ballot initiatives ever, for the amount of money pouring into both sides, the ramifications for federal Republicans, as well as the size and impact of Florida’s market on the industry.

But DeSantis’ closing arguments — that Amendment 3 is about “corporate greed,” and not “freedom,” per his wife Casey on X — could be a sign that the tipping point is here. Even staunch legalization opponents understand how popular cannabis is, and are quibbling less about whether to legalize at all, and more about how to do it — and who it should benefit.

Big $$$: DeSantis has allegedly spent $50 million of taxpayer dollars fighting Amendment 3. Smart & Safe Florida, the pro-legalization campaign, has spent over $100 million, mostly from Florida-cannabis firm Trulieve. 

What happened: The ‘No on 3’ campaign has made a flurry of last-minute appeals to Floridians to vote against the ballot measure. Both DeSantis and Florida’s First Lady have made multiple public appearances centering their opposition.

DeSantis’ closing argument on Amendment 3 has rested less on being anti-cannabis in general — perhaps owing to the strong public support that shows a majority of Floridians want legal cannabis — and more around the fact that Amendment 3 would be a “corporate handout,” to Trulieve, which is primary financial backer of Smart & Safe Florida.

Majority support: Some polls show Amendment 3 with as much as 66% support in the state. The ballot measure needs 60% to pass, and it will then be up to the state’s legislature to iron out regulations for a legal market. 

What they’re saying: “But even if you’re somebody who is more open to it, this is the last way that you would want to go about doing it,” DeSantis said at an appearance at a Baptist church last week. 

“This amendment is being written to benefit this one big weed company. They are not spending $100 million because they want to benefit you or they want to benefit the state of Florida.”

They’ve also coordinated responses from Florida Republicans like State Sen. Jay Collins, who says that Amendment 3 would give Trulieve a “constitutionally protected monopoly,” on cannabis sales in the state. 

On the other hand: Smart & Safe has also been on a media blitz, touting endorsements from up-and-coming lawmakers like Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL). 

The organization on Friday hosted a bipartisan event with State Sens. Jason Pizzo (D) and Joe Gruters (R). Pizzo alleged that DeSantis and the anti-Amendment 3 group have spent $50 million of taxpayer money on the anti-legalization campaign — about half of the 'Visit Florida' campaign. Tourism is one of the largest sectors of Florida’s economy. 

Some of that money, $4 million to be exact, comes from a settlement that was ostensibly meant for combating the opioid crisis and has been funneled into the anti-cannabis and anti-abortion campaigns led by DeSantis. 

“No matter where you stand on this issue, this is still a democracy. We do not spend taxpayer dollars in advance of a political issue,” Gruters said. 

And: Pro-legalization advocates from Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers to Barstool CEO Dave Portnoy have also made multiple appearances touting Amendment 3 in recent days. 

Rivers, in an interview, said she and Trulieve do support the right to grow cannabis at home, contrary to what some have suggested. Growing at home has been a sticking point among some legalization advocates who say that passing Amendment 3 will bar them from doing so in order to enrich Trulieve. It is up to Florida’s legislature if Amendment 3 passes, to create regulations around growing at home, however. 

And Portnoy released a video on X where he appeals to Floridians’ respect for personal liberty, asking why he can legally smoke weed, watch football, and eat pizza at his home in Massachusetts but can’t in Miami.

Oof: The ‘No on 3’ campaign has also employed disgraced attorney Jenna Ellis, who famously assisted Trump’s illegal attempt to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election. Ellis was ultimately censured by a Colorado judge over spreading misinformation, disbarred, indicted in Georgia, and is now cooperating with prosecutors. Not the best spokesperson!

What’s next: Floridians go to the polls on November 5. We’ll be watching closely. 

-JB

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