Hedge Fund CEO Ken Griffin Pledges $12 Million to Take Down Weed Amendment

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Billionaire and hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin is pumping a massive $12 million into a campaign intent on defeating Florida's proposed recreational marijuana amendment.

The Citadel CEO revealed his contribution to "Keep Florida Clean" in a Miami Herald op-ed, slamming the Amendment 3 ballot initiative as a "terrible plan" and warning that its passage would "create a monopoly" for large marijuana dispensaries.

"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," Griffin wrote.

Griffin most recently joins Governor Ron DeSantis, two law enforcement groups, and the Republican Party in opposition to the amendment, which—if approved by 60% of the Florida electorate in November—would grant adults 21 and over the ability to possess, purchase, or use up to three ounces of recreational marijuana.

This would make the Sunshine State the 25th state to legalize the drug.

“The Vote No on 3 Campaign is thrilled to receive this generous support from Ken Griffin," said Sarah Bascom, the spokeswoman for the anti-recreational marijuana campaign. "These valuable resources will help us as we continue to ramp up what will be a vigorous and full-throated campaign to warn Floridians about this deceptive amendment that would make Florida the California of the east."

As for "Keep Florida Clean", the campaign was recently sent up to combat the Amendment and is led by Governor Ron DeSantis' Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier. Griffin, who announced that he will spend $20 million in Florida this election season, is a powerful donor who has donated to both Republicans and Democrats: more recently, he gave $500,000 toward Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's re-election campaign and in 2021, shelled out $5 million toward DeSantis, Florida Politics reported.

Not all Republicans, however, are against Amendment 3. On Thursday, state Senator Joe Gruters—a Trump ally planning to run for Chief Financial Officer in 2026—broke ranks and announced that supporting the weed initiative is a "common sense decision" that will support economic growth and individual freedom.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Amendment 3 currently has 64% support, 31% opposition, and 5% undecided.