Trump Butts Heads With DeSantis Again Over Weed Legalization Push

Former President Donald Trump announced support for a Florida ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana, pitting him against the state’s Republican governor, who opposes the measure.

Trump announced on Truth Social late Sunday that he would support Florida Amendment 3, a measure that would allow companies licensed by the state to produce medical marijuana to sell their drug for recreational use. Just hours earlier, however, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned about 200 people at a church in Tallahassee that the amendment would create a legal “drug cartel” in the state and lead to rampant public use of the substance, Politico reported.

“Public use of this will be rampant,” DeSantis said. “You can’t point to a state that is better off for doing it.”

The campaign supporting the measure, which would alter Florida’s constitution if passed, has raised over $80 million in cash, according to Politico. Almost all that money, however, came from Trulieve, which is the largest medical marijuana company in the state.

Trulieve would be one of the handful of companies allowed to sell weed for recreational purposes if Amendment 3 is passed. In order to pass, at least 60% of voters will need to approve the measure.

“They’re creating in Florida’s constitution a drug cartel,” DeSantis said. “And they’ll have no liability with the cultivation and sale of marijuana.”

Several recent studies have linked cannabis use to heart disease, stroke