Trulieve Cannabis spending in FL adult-use campaign tops $140M

Public money as well as checks from a major tobacco company are opposing the record-breaking adult-use marijuana legalization campaign in Florida.

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. last week donated another $28 million to the recreational marijuana legalization initiative appearing on the state’s November ballot, campaign finance records show.

That means $141.9 million of the total $149.7 million spent on the Smart & Safe Florida campaign to pass Amendment 3 is from the Tallahassee-based marijuana multistate operator, according to records.

Amendment 3, which Florida voter and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has endorsed, is by far the most expensive marijuana legalization measure in U.S. history.

With more than a week of campaigning remaining before the Nov. 5 election, the figure will likely increase even more.

Legalization foes using public money

Against Trulieve’s record-breaking resources, legalization opponents – led by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – are mobilizing public money, according to multiple reports.

This includes cash Florida has on hand thanks to a landmark settlement with pharmaceutical companies blamed for the opioid-overdose epidemic, two state senators are alleging.

As much as $50 million in Florida taxpayer money is paying for public-service announcements from the state Department of Transportation and other agencies warning about the dangers of legalizing adult use, pro-legalization state Sens. Jason Pizzo and Joe Gruters said, according to local media outlets.

Independent reporting backed up at least some of their allegations, which Pizzo also made last month in a lawsuit against the state. A judge recently dismissed the suit, the New Service of Florida reported.

According to the Miami Herald, the state’s Department of Children and Families used $4 million from Florida’s opioid settlement to hire a marketing agency to develop an “advertising campaign … aimed at educating” residents about the “dangers of marijuana, opioid, and drug use.”

That’s a boon for DeSantis’ anti-legalization efforts, which have drawn less far less resources from donors than Trulieve can deploy.

Campaign finance records show that DeSantis’ Florida Freedom Fund, which is opposing an abortion-rights measure as well as adult-use legalization, has received only $7.1 million in contributions through Monday.

Philip Morris, Trish Duggan among opponents’ donors

Prominent companies to donate to the effort include tobacco giant Philip Morris International’s PMI Global Services, which has contributed $500,000.

The top individual donor is artist and philanthropist Trish Duggan, who donated $1 million on Aug. 28, according to records.

DeSantis’ anti-legalization push has also drawn resources from at least one Florida hemp company, which contributed $100,000.

The contribution followed DeSantis’ veto of a bill that would have curtailed the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Florida, leading to allegations of a quid pro quo relationship that hemp interests have denied.

Chris Roberts can be reached at ch***********@mj********.com.