DeSantis Faces a 'High' Uphill Climb on Amendment 3 - Marijuana Legalization

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has stood firm in his opposition against the legalization of marijuana since assuming office in 2019. Amendment 3 is the measure that will be voted on by Floridians in November that allows the legalization of recreational marijuana. While Gov. DeSantis has stated that how the amendment is written is “too broad,” his more quotable comment is that people will “smell it” more than before.

"The marijuana [amendment] is written so broadly, you are not going to be able to restrict where people use it—your life will be impacted by this," DeSantis said at a press conference in April. "You will smell it when you're walking down a lot of these streets, particularly in our urban areas."

However, what might be the most interesting fact surrounding the millions of dollars campaigning for and against the amendment is that members of Gov. DeSantis’ inner circle, both now and during his presidential campaign, are pushing for the passage of Amendment 3 with millions of dollars behind them.

For instance, Jeff Roe was a major part of the DeSantis presidential campaign and eventually rose to CEO of the Never Back Down PAC. He resigned in December of 2023. But his firms Axiom Strategies and Vanguard Field Strategies were paid “nearly $29 million by an organization” known as Smart & Safe Florida, a prominent pro-pot initiative, according to Politico.

Moreover, DeSantis loyalist and longtime advisor Nick Iarossi of Capital City Consulting also has Trulieve – one of, if not the major backer of the Amendment 3 campaign – as a client with his firm. DeSantis has gone after Trulieve, describing them as a company from Canada (which they deny).

“How ridiculous is this, that we would let our Constitution basically be rent-seeking for some Canadian marijuana company," DeSantis said during a breakfast speech last month at the Republican National Convention, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. "I mean, give me a break."

Prominent state Republicans such as Senator Joe Gruters (R-FL) have supported Amendment 3 as well, and polling shows DeSantis could be on the losing side as 65% approve the measure in Florida according to a Quinnipiac University poll.

It appears he will fighting an uphill battle against members of his party and his inner circle. He defied already high expectations in 2022.