Florida Cannabis Legalization Initiative Faces Opposition from Musk-Linked Group
The political landscape surrounding Florida's upcoming cannabis legalization vote has shifted with a significant donation to the opposition campaign. Faithful & Strong Policies, Inc., an organization reportedly linked to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has contributed $500,000 to Keep Florida Clean, a group dedicated to defeating Amendment 3. This development comes as the pro-legalization campaign surpasses $100 million in contributions.
The Florida cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, will be decided by voters in the November elections. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida has expressed concern over Musk's anti-cannabis stance, highlighting the significant financial backing behind the opposition campaign.
Faithful & Strong Policies, Inc. is headed by Florida attorney Scott Wagner and the contribution was made to Keep Florida Clean, a group chaired by James Uthmeier, DeSantis' chief of staff and former campaign manager. This financial injection comes just three weeks before the election, following a poll showing majority support for the cannabis measure, though not enough to meet the 60% threshold required for constitutional amendment passage.
The $500,000 donation pales in comparison to the over $100 million raised by Smart & Safe Florida, the committee behind the legalization amendment. As of late August, the pro-legalization campaign had garnered at least $91 million, primarily from Trulieve Cannabis Corp, the state's largest medical marijuana operator.
While Musk's direct connection to Faithful & Strong Policies remains unclear, The Wall Street Journal reported his previous $10 million contribution to the organization, with half supporting DeSantis's presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, Governor DeSantis actively opposes the initiative, with his administration facing criticism for a taxpayer-funded public service announcement warning of impaired driving in states with legalized cannabis. Trulieve has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Florida's Republican Party, accusing them of misleading voters about Amendment 3's implications.
The upcoming election will determine the fate of Florida's cannabis legalization initiative, with significant financial backing on both sides of the campaign.