Cannabis Exec Donates $100K to DeSantis’ Anti-Cannabis Campaign

Florida Hemp Businesses Rally Behind Gov. DeSantis in Anti-Cannabis Legalization Effort

Amid new reports, Florida-based hemp businesses are throwing their support behind Gov. Ron DeSantis’s campaign to defeat a marijuana legalization initiative. Hemp executives have pledged to donate $5 million to the Republican party as it works to oppose the effort. One notable contribution is a $100,000 boost to the governor’s “Florida Freedom Fund” from a cannabis-affiliated company after its initially slow fundraising start.

Governor’s Strategic Move

This support comes just weeks after Gov. DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have banned most consumable hemp products, a move seen by some as a strategy to gain favor within the hemp industry for his anti-marijuana crusade. DeSantis launched the political action committee last month, targeting both the marijuana legalization measure and a separate abortion rights initiative set to appear on the November ballot.

POB Ventures’ Significant Contribution

POB Ventures, linked to a medical cannabis worker training institution and a chain of hemp businesses, is at the center of this support. The company contributed $100,000 to the “Florida Freedom Fund,” significantly boosting its total to about $121,000. In an exclusive interview with Marijuana Moment, POB Ventures CEO Patrick O’Brien explained his rationale.

CEO Patrick O’Brien’s Stance

O’Brien clarified that he is not opposed to adult-use cannabis legalization in principle but is concerned about the specific language of the ballot initiative. He argues that the initiative’s framework, which provides an option rather than a mandate for regulators to approve additional licenses, could lead to a monopolized cannabis economy favoring existing medical marijuana companies like Trulieve.

“If you look very closely at the writing, they just messed up—and it was with full intent to mess this up,” O’Brien stated. “All they had to do was make a simple change from ‘may’ issue more licenses to ‘must’ issue more licenses, and we would have had a recreational market.”

Criticism and Justification

Despite criticism for contributing to DeSantis’s PAC, O’Brien defends his support by highlighting DeSantis’s consistent backing of small businesses. He believes his contribution would have a greater impact supporting the governor’s PAC rather than independently opposing Amendment 3.

“All he has done since being in office—at least for me, being here with boots on the ground, in regard to small business—is fight for it,” O’Brien said. “Why in the world, as a small business, when I’m going up against a giant, why would I not align myself with such a mindset?”

Broader Context and Concerns

It’s important to note that the “Florida Freedom Fund” is also targeting an abortion rights amendment. O’Brien acknowledges concerns about aligning with a politician who holds contentious policy positions but emphasizes his primary focus on supporting small businesses.

“Who wouldn’t be [concerned]?” he said. “I mean, the guy’s talking about abortion and all kinds of other things. But at the end of the day, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m here for the little guy. I’m here for the small business.”

Collective Industry Effort

New reports from CBS News Miami indicate that unnamed hemp businesses have pledged $5 million to the state Republican Party to support DeSantis’s fight against the legalization measure. This follows DeSantis’s veto of the hemp ban bill, which some suspect was influenced by the anticipated industry contributions.

“We know nothing in life is free and neither was this veto,” a leaked WhatsApp message from the Save Florida Hemp chain states, suggesting a quid pro quo arrangement. The group has reportedly already contributed $2 million across dozens of payments.

Official Responses

A spokesperson for the governor denied any connection between the veto and the contributions, stating that the veto was to prevent regulatory burdens on small businesses. JJ Combs, CEO of Arvida Labs and Mellow Fellow, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing support for DeSantis’s efforts against Amendment 3 without linking it to the veto.

NORML’s Perspective

Paul Armentano, deputy director of the pro-legalization group NORML, criticized the opposition to the initiative, arguing that rejecting the measure would perpetuate punitive cannabis laws affecting tens of thousands of Floridians annually.

Governor DeSantis’s Opposition

Gov. DeSantis has been vocal in his opposition to the marijuana legalization initiative, citing concerns about public health and the pervasive smell of cannabis. He has argued that the existing medical marijuana program is sufficient and that broader legalization would negatively impact the state.

As Florida heads towards the November ballot, the political and financial maneuvers surrounding the marijuana legalization initiative are intensifying. With significant contributions from hemp businesses and vocal opposition from Gov. DeSantis, the outcome of this initiative will shape the future of cannabis regulation in the state.