The campaign behind a Florida initiative to legalize marijuana that will be voted on this November has raised over $50 million, more than any previous legalization campaign.
On April 1 the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Smart & Safe Florida’s initiative to legalize recreational marijuana will appear on this November’s ballot. Now, the campaign has announced that they’ve raised an additional $15 million in support of their initiative from new partners, bringing the total to $55 million. For comparison, proponents of California’s Proposition 64 raised $25 million in 2016, while those behind Ohio’s Issue 2 raised just $7 million last year; both initiatives were given approval by voters.
According to a report by MJBizDaily, over $40 million of the $55 million was raised by Trulieve, the leading medical marijuana retailer in Florida with 134 locations statewide. The new donors to the initiative include:
- Miami-based Ayr Wellness, which operates 63 medical marijuana treatment centers in the state.
- Chicago-headquartered Cresco Labs, 33.
- New York-based Curaleaf Holdings, 61.
- Chicago-headquartered Green Thumb Industries, 15.
- Massachusetts-based Insa, 10.
- Chicago-headquartered Verano Holdings, 74.
“We are not only pleased that the court has agreed to move this initiative forward, but we are also thrilled to announce a strong alliance of committed donors to the effort,” says David Bellamy, the Smart & Safe Florida campaign chair.
If passed by voters this November, Amendment 3 would allow those 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, purchasable at a licensed marijuana retail outlet. Retail sales would begin in May, 2025.
Given it’s a constitutional amendment, Amendment 3 will need a 60% majority to be enacted into law.
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