Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday hosted his tenth and eleventh campaign events against Florida's ballot amendments, focusing today on a measure legalizing recreational marijuana that his administration argues should be "slaughtered."
With just one day left until the election, DeSantis campaigned in Miami and Orlando alongside other state officials like Lieutenant Gov. Jeanette Nunez and Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris, where they urged Floridians to vote "no" on the marijuana initiative, called Amendment 3.
"I think the Constitution, you know, it should be a sacred document," the Governor said in Miami, at his first stop of the day. He claimed that the medical marijuana company Trulieve, which is responsible for $141 million of the $148 million raised by the campaign for Amendment 3, is attempting to commandeer the state constitution for its own monetary gains.
"It should not be just for sale to the highest bidder."
Lieutenant Gov. Nunez agreed, telling onlookers, "We've seen what has happened, and this is corporate greed. It makes me think of the old adage that pigs get fat, but hogs get slaughtered, so let's make sure that we slaughter this amendment tomorrow."
After Monday's affairs against Amendment 3, which legalizes up to three ounces of marijuana for adults 21 and over, the Governor has held eleven campaign events in three weeks against Amendment 3 and the other citizen-led initiative, Amendment 4, which expands abortion access. His wife, Casey DeSantis, has held five events campaigning against Amendment 3.
DeSantis kicked off his statewide tour primarily opposing the abortion amendment, while the First Lady addressed marijuana issues. But as polls showed support for Amendment 4 sinking beneath the 60% passage threshold, DeSantis adjusted his strategy: he scaled back his abortion events and ramped up his anti-marijuana efforts.
Why? Because Amendment 3 is backed by one key political heavyweight: Donald Trump.
While Amendment 4 is universally opposed by major Florida Republicans, Amendment 3's conservative split has made things tricky for the Florida Governor. Though DeSantis has frequently campaigned against the Trump-endorsed measure, blasting its every aspect from smell to alleged monopolized power to the outlandish claim that it will prevent families from suing trucks of weed for running over their children, he hasn't mentioned the former President once.
The campaign for Amendment 3, Smart and Safe Florida, has jumped on this; in a new ad, they attempt to depoliticize the amendment by pointing out that both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump back Amendment 3.
The election is tomorrow.
