Multistate cannabis company Trulieve has contributed another $500,000 to Smart & Safe Florida, the campaign leading the charge to legalize cannabis for adult use in the state. This contribution brings Trulieve’s total donation to the effort to a staggering $39.55 million, making them the primary financial supporter of the campaign.
Trulieve’s contribution to Smart & Safe Florida has been substantial, with the company accounting for all but $124.58 of the funds raised. According to data from the Florida Divisions of Elections, as of September 30, the committee had already spent $39.545 million in the quest to push cannabis legalization into Florida’s public consciousness.
Legal challenges have arisen as opponents, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, seek to keep the cannabis legalization question off the ballots. In court filings, Moody’s lawyers claim that the proposed constitutional amendment “misleads” voters to benefit Trulieve. Solicitor General Henry Whitaker, in a brief to the court, stated that the ballot summary “misleads in ways that, though sometimes subtle, are likely to influence voters – and to do so in a way that entrenches the sponsor’s monopolistic stranglehold on the marijuana market to the detriment of Floridians.”
The Florida Supreme Court is set to hear Moody’s challenge to the ballot measure in the coming month. While legal disputes continue, public support for adult-use cannabis in the state remains strong. A recent poll conducted by the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University revealed that 60% of respondents support cannabis legalization for adult use, with 29% opposed, and 11% undecided.
Trulieve’s substantial financial backing and the ongoing legal challenges create a dynamic landscape as Florida’s cannabis advocates strive to bring about the legalization of adult-use cannabis in the state. The outcome of the court battle and the public’s support for the initiative will play significant roles in shaping the future of Florida’s cannabis industry.
