MedMen, Parallel seed first $1 million to 2020 recreational pot push

Florida state flag with marijuana leaf
Big money, from big companies.

Make It Legal Florida, a political committee devoted to a constitutional amendment that would legalize cannabis, reported its first month of fundraising Tuesday.

If August is any sign, the committee won’t lack for resources, as two major players in the medical space anted up big.

Of the $1.09 million raised, MedMen and Parallel™ (formerly known as Surterra Holdings) each contributed $545,000.

MedMen’s investment should not have been a surprise.

The Make It Legal political committee is chaired by Nick Hansen, a former longtime adviser to GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg and current Southeastern Director of Government Affairs for MedMen.

Surterra, very active in Florida’s medical cannabis sector, would (like other medical marijuana treatment centers) stand to benefit if the Make It Legal proposition resonated with at least 60 percent of the voters in November 2020.

The initiative would permit those 21 and older to possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis and accessories. expanding the scope of medical marijuana treatment centers to recreational sales. Public use of the herb would not be permitted.

The Make It Legal proposal will need 766,200 signatures to make the ballot, suggesting that the money raised will be moved quickly toward that effort.

Meanwhile, a second cannabis legalization proposal is also in the works, but it is struggling for financial resources.

The Sensible Florida initiative would allow “home grow,” and makes no special carveouts for the corporate players in the medical cannabis space.

Thus far, Sensible Florida has just over 88,000 petitions signed. Progress looks to be slow, given that August was the second straight month in which the political committee raised less than $10,000.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


9 comments

  • gary

    September 10, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    NO!

    • Jitzzle

      September 10, 2019 at 4:15 pm

      It’s happening whether you like it or not GARY.

  • Earl Morrison

    September 10, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    A sane commitment to a public benefit…thank you from disabled Marine turning 70 Nov. 11th

    • S'ri Mitchell

      September 14, 2019 at 9:45 pm

      Veteran born on Veteran’s Day. Congratulations

  • Tiffaney Conner

    September 10, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    This is the smartest thing that Florida can do. The current situation with medical marijuana is only really benefitting the doctors and limited number of dispensaries. Complete legalization would benefit the people in the state of Florida and give them options without ripping them off, limiting their options and open up the playing field for honest competition and better products.

  • Bryan Kilpatrick

    September 10, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    I am Bryan Kilpatrick and im on SSI do to me having a few problems,Seizure Disorder for 37 years. I dont have any money but you can speak to Karan Goldstein all i need is a few petition and i will do the leg work so we will be that many more that i get signed s closer to the 775,000.00 so if you can please email me a copy of the petition i know that i will be able to get well over 2500++ of them signed for sure. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME… BRYAN KILPATRICK

  • Paula Taylor

    September 10, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    YES! It’s about time!!!!

  • James Berraz

    September 10, 2019 at 6:22 pm

    Do not support Make it legal Florida. It prohibits hone growing and is backed by Medmen who want to keep home growing illegal. BOYCOTT medmen and Make it legal florida.

  • David

    September 12, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    Give some information how the parents can get test kids for their children

Comments are closed.


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