Florida recreational cannabis legalization opponents get $12 million donation

The billionaire owner and CEO of a Miami-based hedge fund donated $12 million to opponents of a recreational cannabis legalization ballot measure that Floridians will vote on in the November election.

Ken Griffin, who owns 80% of Citadel, announced the donation in an opinion piece published Friday in the Miami Herald.

‘Would create a monopoly’

Griffin called Amendment 3, as the adult-use legalization measure is known, “a terrible plan to create the nation’s most expansive and destructive marijuana laws.”

“Passage of Amendment 3 would create a monopoly for large marijuana dispensaries and permit pot use in public and private areas throughout Florida,” Griffin alleged in his op-ed.

“That will help no one other than special interests – and it will hurt us all, especially through more dangerous roads, a higher risk of addiction among our youth, and an increase in crime.”

The contribution from Griffin – who has donated more than $10 million to support Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ election bids, the Tampa Bay Times reported – went to a newly formed political committee, Keep Florida Clean, and its public-facing entity, Vote No on 3.

Through June 28, three Amendment 3 opponents – Vote No on 3, Floridians Against Recreational Marijuana and the Florida Freedom Fund –  had raised only $125,200, according to data from Ballotpedia. The Florida Freedom Fund was created by DeSantis.

By contrast, the group behind Amendment 3, Smart & Safe Florida, has raised more than $66 million.

That total includes about $60 million in contributions from major multistate operator Trulieve Cannabis Corp., the biggest medical marijuana company in Florida.

More opinions on adult use

Meanwhile, the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association recently announced their opposition to Amendment 3, according to the News Service of Florida.

The adult-use ballot initiative has also gotten some positive news, however:

• State Sen. Joe Gruters, a high-ranking Republican from Sarasota, said he was supporting Amendment 3, according to Naples-based news outlet Florida’s Voice. That’s in direct contrast to the Florida Republican Party executive board’s stance against the adult-use initiative.
• 64% of likely Florida voters said in a recent poll by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab that they would vote yes on Amendment 3. Of the 774 respondents, 31% said they would vote no, “with only 5% undecided or refusing.