Trulieve

Operators sold more than 141,000 ounces of smokable cannabis from Oct. 31 through Nov. 6 in the state, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Acquiring a medical marijuana license, setting up facilities and securing dispensary locations costs tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, hemp retailers can set up shop faster, easier and cheaper.

The contributions during the first three months of 2025 went to the Smart & Safe Florida committee, which is gathering signatures to get a revised constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot.

The revamped proposal from the Smart & Safe Florida committee seeks to address issues raised by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who led a drive to defeat last year’s constitutional measure.

In the past, Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers has tempered her public criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration, which regulates her business. But she called DeSantis' critiques on Amendment 3 “hogwash.”

Ron DeSantis held a rally in Naples on Tuesday, October 29, campaigning against amendments 3 and 4. His comments on Amendment 3, the legalization of recreational marijuana, call into question the honesty with which he is representing the amendment to his supporters.

Trulieve, a major medical cannabis distributor, has contributed more than $92 million to the Smart & Safe Florida political committee, which is pushing for passage of Amendment 3 in November.

Trulieve has donated nearly $100 million to support Amendment 3. The state's Republican chair says the lawsuit is a result of the ads "working" and being "truthful."

In all, Trulieve had contributed about $60.39 million to the committee as of July 19, according to a state Division of Elections database.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office late Wednesday pumped up arguments against a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize recreational use of marijuana, saying the measure “misleads” voters in a way to benefit the state’s largest medical-marijuana operator, Trulieve.

While the proposed constitutional amendment for recreational use topped the signature threshold, it still must clear another major hurdle — Florida Supreme Court approval.

A proposed amendment has been filed with the state's Division of Elections in an effort to get it placed on the 2024 ballot.