Republicans in Florida are squabbling over marijuana legalization, with the chairman of the Florida Young Republicans publicly claiming that a recent endorsement will be reversed.
The Florida Young Republicans bucked the state GOP’s official position, which opposes adult-use marijuana legalization measure Amendment 3, with an endorsement on Sept. 10.
But that endorsement came about “at the last minute” and was “pushed … by an individual paid by the Yes on 3 campaign,” Brandon Ludwig, chair of the Young Republicans, claimed in a Sept. 10 post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“I look forward to our Exec. Committee reversing this vote,” Ludwig said.
It’s unclear if or when a reversal might happen, but in the meantime, Ludwig’s claims highlight a larger split within the party over the issue – and a disagreement between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, the two biggest figures in Florida’s Republican party.
DeSantis, who spoke out against Amendment 3 during the Republican National Convention in July, is fundraising and campaigning against the measure.
A few weeks after the convention, Trump endorsed Amendment 3 in a late-night post on his social media site, Truth Social, where he also spoke in favor of federal cannabis rescheduling.
Amendment 3 is sponsored chiefly by Tallahassee-based marijuana multistate operator Trulieve Cannabis, which has contributed $81.5 million to the measure to date, according to campaign finance records.
Existing medical marijuana treatment centers, including Trulieve, would be first in line to start selling to adults ages 21 and older if the measure is passed.
To pass a constitutional amendment in Florida, 60% of voters must support the measure.
