Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing accusations of using taxpayer-funded ads as a way to sway public opinion against a marijuana legalization initiative that will be on the November ballot.
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The ad in question was produced by the Florida Department of Transportation and warns about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis. The ad claims, “DUI crashes increase in states with legalized marijuana, putting everyone at risk.”
Advocates for the marijuana legalization campaign, Smart & Safe Florida, have responded by sending cease and desist letters to TV stations airing the ad. They allege that a political committee called Vote No on 3 is using the public service announcement (PSA) to push its agenda, using government resources to amplify its message for less money. The ad includes a line warning viewers that a DUI conviction “can more than double your car insurance” and suggests there’s no easy way to measure how high someone is behind the wheel. It ends with, “Don’t drive high. It can raise your premiums—or end your life.”
What’s raising eyebrows is the timing of the ad—just weeks before the vote on marijuana reform. Advocates are calling it unfair, especially since research on whether legalization leads to more impaired driving is mixed. Federal reports haven’t conclusively proven that cannabis legalization causes a rise in dangerous driving.
Smart & Safe Florida’s cease and desist letters argue, “Florida law demands that campaigns be operated in the sunshine.” They accuse the opposition committee of hiding behind a state agency to get discounted ad rates. The campaign also claims that TV stations rejected a more neutral PSA in favor of airing this one.
Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party and a former state agriculture commissioner, jumped into the fray, accusing DeSantis of using taxpayer dollars to fight both cannabis legalization and a separate reproductive rights initiative on the ballot. “Desantis uses YOUR money to campaign against legalizing cannabis,” Fried said, questioning whether the Florida Legislature was okay with this use of public funds.
Fried, who has endorsed Amendment 3, also laid out her vision for cannabis regulation if the amendment passes, which includes automatic expungements for past marijuana convictions and ensuring tax revenue benefits Black communities and education.
Jeff Brandes, a Republican former state senator and current president of the Florida Policy Project, agrees that Amendment 3 is likely to pass but is critical of the DeSantis administration’s tactics. He warned that airing the PSA “is setting a dangerous precedent” and sarcastically noted that the $15 million spent on the ad campaign “could’ve fixed a lot of potholes.” Brandes added, “Desperation is not a good look!”
As the election nears, both sides are stepping up their efforts. Smart & Safe Florida has rolled out new ads, including one pointing out the inconsistency of criminalizing cannabis while alcohol remains legal. Another ad features a county sheriff arguing in favor of ending marijuana prohibition.
Meanwhile, two congressional Republicans from Florida have shared their views on the legalization initiative. Rep. Laurel Lee predicts the measure will fail, while Rep. Byron Donalds remains undecided, even after former President Donald Trump publicly supported the measure.
In an effort to gather bipartisan support, Florida Senators Joe Gruters, a Republican, and Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, appeared in a new ad for Smart & Safe Florida, emphasizing their rare agreement on the issue. “We don’t agree on much—hardly anything,” Gruters says in the ad. “But we do agree on this: Amendment 3 is good for Florida.”
Despite growing bipartisan support and polling that suggests the majority of Florida voters back the measure, Governor DeSantis remains steadfast in his opposition. He’s referred to the effort as one that would benefit a corporate “weed cartel,” continuing his campaign to defeat the amendment even as former President Trump has endorsed it.
Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers, alongside Gruters, met with Trump to secure his support for Amendment 3, as well as for broader federal reforms like rescheduling cannabis and improving banking access for the industry. The battle over marijuana legalization in Florida continues to heat up as November approaches.
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