Musk supports DeSantis in blocking marijuana legalization

The battle for legal marijuana continues as GOP leaders face off… and another player has joined the fray

Florida is a battleground state for this election in more ways than one. While the majority of Floridians are in favor of some form of cannabis legalization, the governor disagrees and has waged an all-out battle with the industry. Now Elon Musk is supporting DeSantis in blocking marijuana legalization. How everything will end is unclear.

In 2013, the group United for Care submitted 745,613 of the required 683,149 signatures to pass a medical marijuana ballot initiative. The state appealed, but the Florida Supreme Court allowed it to proceed. It failed with 57.6% of the vote, falling short of the 60% supermajority required for constitutional amendments in Florida. Nevada casino owner Sheldon Adelson came to the rescue with $5.5 million to fund the opposition campaign.

A second attempt was made in 2016 and the initiative was approved on November 8, 2016 with 71.3% of the vote.

Now a new initiative is on the ballot, pitting Governor Desanits and Elon Musk against the Republican presidential candidate. DeSantis has had a strained relationship with the GOP leader since the governor's failed presidential bid. However, the candidate appears to have a working partnership with Musk and has suggested creating a new role for Musk as Minister of Cost Reductions.

Photo by Andrew Yalansky/Getty Images

DeSantis has had a hard time fighting the popular plant. He has been criticized by his own state's leaders for using state resources to fight legalization. Additionally, the group that DeSantis agreed to raise money to stop cannabis has raised less than $20 million. The Pro Group has raised over $100 million. But now Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), is coming to DeSantis's aid.

Faithful & Strong Policies, Inc. donated $500,000 to Keep Florida Clean, Inc. earlier this month, campaign records show. Keep Florida clean. Musk donated $10 million to the organization. Musk was also a supporter of the governor's campaign.

Surveys show that the initiative has a good chance of reaching the 60% mark. Being a presidential year with other big issues on the ballot is a help for cannabis, but with fresh money and Twitter fighting it, only time can tell what happens next. And it will be interesting to see what happens to the three mega-personalities of the Republican Party.