Christine Jordan Sexton
Billionaire Ken Griffin is giving a staggering $12 million to the campaign to defeat Amendment 3, a move that will jolt the effort to block the recreational marijuana initiative.
Griffin, the CEO of hedge fund firm Citadel who relocated his business from Chicago two years ago, announced his support in a Miami Herald op-ed.
“Passage of Amendment 3 would create a monopoly for large marijuana dispensaries and permit pot use in public and private areas throughout Florida,” Griffin wrote. “That will help no one other than special interests — and it will hurt us all, especially through more dangerous roads, a higher risk of addiction among our youth, and an increase in crime.”
Griffin said in the op-ed that he was pledging a total of $20 million to both candidates and to the political committee, Keep Florida Clean, that was recently set up to oppose the amendment. Keep Florida Clean is led by James Uthmeier, the Chief of Staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Griffin is known for being among one of the most prominent political donors in the nation. He recently gave $500,000 to a political committee supporting the re-election of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Griffin in 2021 gave $5 million to a political committee supporting DeSantis.
If approved by at least 60% of voters, Amendment 3 would allow adults in Florida to possess and use recreational marijuana. Voters approved the use of medical marijuana in 2016.
Medical marijuana giant Trulieve has bankrolled most of the effort to get the new amendment on the ballot and passed, and has spent nearly $60 million so far.
Griffin’s announcement that he was going to help defeat the amendment comes the same week that two law enforcement groups announced their opposition Amendment 3. DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida are also against the amendment, with DeSantis forcefully denouncing the measure that he says will diminish the quality of life in Florida.
“These valuable resources will help us as we continue to ramp up what will be a vigorous and full-throated campaign to warn Floridians about this deceptive amendment that would make Florida the California of the east,” said Sarah Bascom, a spokesperson for the effort to defeat Amendment 3.
Smart & Safe Florida —the official committee backing the amendment — has already started airing television and radio ads touting passage.
And earlier this week Sen. Joe Gruters, the former Chair of the Republican Party of Florida, said he was endorsing Amendment 3. Gruters’ backing of the initiative is notable because he is a longtime ally of President Donald Trump who has clashed with DeSantis in the past.
Gruters called backing the amendment a “common-sense decision” and that “by legalizing recreational marijuana for adults, we can give Floridians access to safe products, generate significant revenue for critical public services and create new job opportunities for Floridians.”
A new poll released this week by the University of North Florida had the amendment getting 64% approval — which is above the 60% threshold needed to pass. The poll, however, did have a 4.6-percentage-point margin of error, which means it could be teetering on the edge.
22 comments
rbruce
August 2, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Vote no on recreational MJ bill. It will do no good for anyone. Rarely does anyone go to jail for simple possession alone. If one does go to jail it’s for other reasons. The taxpayer has spend hundreds of millions trying to get people to stop smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Why does it make sense to encourage MJ smoking?
Danilo Pie
August 3, 2024 at 6:00 pm
It’s not about encouraging, it’s about freedom. The freedom to choose. If you don’t like it, don’t do it. But don’t stop others from doing it. That’s not freedom.
Linwood Wright
August 7, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Republicans HATE freedom though. They really do.
Sure, they love giving big corporations the freedom to pollute the water, and the freedom to exploit their workers, etc.
But they HATE personal freedom. The typical Republican is an authoritarian who would be more comfortable living under a King than a Constitution.
Scott Griggs
August 4, 2024 at 2:34 pm
I did 180 days in Marion County for possession of a joints worth..Judge Fudge. Look me up if you don’t believe it, name is Scott Griggs and it was 2003/04
Stacey
August 4, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Because tobacco has absolutely no medicinal purpose, while cannabis has a plethora. Plus, you do not have to “smoke” cannabis ( edibles, topicals etc)… As for your argument that nobody goes to jail for simple possession…1st- Check your prison population ( I bet the ones serving time for possession would disagree with you) 2nd- More importantly..Buying cannabis from an unregulated seller puts the buyer at risk. Dealers are mixing cannabis with other drugs ( I work in a substance abuse facility with both addicts and ex dealers…I do know!) plus being able to know the strain and what you are actually getting is SO important for people utilizing cannabis for medicinal reasons. Before you say “Well then get your medical card,” please understand that the cost of that is prohibitive to some people.
I wish people that didn’t need cannabis would really stay out of the way for people that benefit from it. Ask yourself this how many prescriptions do you take???? Have you ever read the side effects ( at least the ones they have to tell you about) on those bottles? Cannabis has never killed anyone and the side effects are happy,.hungry and tired. I’ll take those odds any day.
Emile
August 4, 2024 at 8:01 pm
You do not seem well informed.
People are arrested on marijuana charges everyday. Many of them lose their jobs and apartments because they can’t afford to bond out of jail.
If you don’t believe that then just stop by misdemeanor court during arraignments at your local courthouse and listen to the Judge as he informs people what their charges are.
Josh Green
August 7, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Well there it is. The dumbest thing i’ve read all week.
Tom
August 2, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Coming from the man who paid $45MM for a stegosaurus, I’m not sure his opinions mean much.
Stacey Jackson
August 4, 2024 at 4:22 pm
😂😂 Right!! Lol
Raz
August 2, 2024 at 1:45 pm
He needs to spend some of that money on a jar of gummies and chill TF out.
Stacey Jackson
August 4, 2024 at 4:23 pm
True!!
Roy
August 2, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Its already legal. I can buy Delta 9 at my local gas station thanks to Desantis
Linwood Wright
August 7, 2024 at 2:42 pm
DeSantis had nothing to do with that. Delta 9 is legal at the Federal Level. Ron DeSantis IS trying to ban it here in Florida though, FYI.
Ocean Joe
August 2, 2024 at 3:01 pm
If the billionaire hedge fund tycoon says no, it’s a yes for me.
And yes on Amendment 4.
Jerome Baker
August 2, 2024 at 3:21 pm
Good. Vote no unless home grow!
RON DESANTIS AND MAGA ARE CANCER
August 3, 2024 at 7:39 am
Desantis and all the idiot “conservatives” live in a completely different world. Once again, it’s never about the people or improving FL, it’s all about greasing each others palms and invoking fake paranoia and fear to the seniors of FL. NONE of them care about alcohol. TRUE threats on the road. TRUE crime happens because of drunk idiots. NEVER EVER has anything remotely close or consistently happened anytime with someone who just smoked marijuana. DUIs exist. Fake ass “conservatives” (Desantis) who go and sneak policy changes to benefit them in the middle of early morning (2am) so they could cheat the system. Desantis abandoned his job in FL attempting to reassure his ego to run for president, which called for governors to resign from their role, funny how “conservative” Ron had no problem “progressing” these policies that have been there, also shielding where all his money during his ego tour went. Using FL tax payer money meant for FL so he could parade around as people can’t afford to live here.. Ron is a disgusting little man who thinks he’s God. Ron is a weak boy and all these idiots who try to scare people about marijuana most likely use it behind closed doors also. Has no benefit for FL to not allow it. F RON DESANTIS AND ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS HIM. Got Nazis marching outside Disney, everyone’s armed here with no training or understanding of how to even possess a firearm, but this guys over here talking it will boost crime by having marijuana recreational legal.
Danilo Pie
August 3, 2024 at 3:58 pm
If there’s someone more deserving of being cancelled, it’s this man. He hates freedom, he hates the will of the people so much he’s put a lot of money into it.
Lance Navarro
August 4, 2024 at 6:39 pm
Good grief, talk about someone who REALLY needs to smoke a joint, calm down and start harshing others’ mellow.
S
August 5, 2024 at 9:42 am
Who is payi g those medical bills when someone gets hurt. Oh Obama. Care
Oh right more b men a dis in franchised
EL MAYO GRIFFIN
August 7, 2024 at 11:44 am
Ken Griffin is a loser. Nobody likes Ken except Ken. He defeated the progressive tax in Illinois and then moved to Florida. (You cant have your residence seized in Florida during bankruptcy.) Now he is building the most expensive home in the world in Miami. He will fight anything that the majority of citizens want just so he can be a winner. The financial markets are 100% rigged by people like Kenny and nothing will ever be done. Our government is only for billionaires and makes sure everything benefits them. Corruption will continue now and forever with the SEC. Nothing will change ever.
Melvin
August 7, 2024 at 11:49 am
Ken Griffin eats buttholes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He also looks like a 85 year old grandma. Crime and corruption is really aging him faster than the normal person. Keep it up Ken. You really are the best at being a pos loser who looks like an old lady.
Melvin's Ghost
August 9, 2024 at 11:11 am
Bernie Madoff is a saint compared to Kenneth Griffin. Ken sucks at life and everybody hates Ken except the people he pays. What a miserable crappy life to live where everybody hates you because you are a horrible greedy person. He adds nothing of value to society. He is like a leech that just sucks all excess wealth from society and then uses that money to fight against society. He produces no product. He just takes. He adds absolutely nothing to the economy except making poor people poorer.
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