Trulieve, Florida’s largest medical marijuana company, filed a defamation lawsuit on Wednesday, accusing the state Republican Party of launching a deceptive campaign to mislead voters about a proposed constitutional amendment, Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana.
With voting by mail already underway for the November 5 election, Trulieve—having contributed nearly $93 million to support the recreational-marijuana initiative—also targeted two Fort Myers-based TV stations, accusing them of airing “false and misleading” ads that misrepresented the proposed amendment.
Read: Florida Marijuana Legalization Campaign Raises $100 Million, Fueled By Big Cannabis
“The GOP knew that the claims in the deceptive mailer and ad were false, intentionally deceptive, and duplicitous but published them anyway in order to trick Florida voters into voting against a ballot initiative that would legalize the recreational use of cannabis in Florida,” the lawsuit claims.
The controversial ad features a gardener who sees a news report about the potential legalization of recreational marijuana and is confronted by a “Big Weed” character, implying that only large corporations, like Trulieve, would benefit from the amendment. Opponents of Amendment 3, including Governor Ron DeSantis, argue that the measure favors licensed medical-marijuana companies, creating a “monopoly” on cannabis sales.
Trulieve’s lawsuit argues that the claims are false, as the amendment would not change the current prohibition on homegrown marijuana and would allow the state legislature to issue additional licenses, increasing competition in the market.
Read: Florida GOP Sen. Joe Gruters Backs Recreational Marijuana But Eyes Public Smoking Ban
Trulieve’s attorneys assert that the “Big Weed” character in the ad is meant to represent Trulieve, as the company is Florida’s largest cannabis producer. They argue the ad implies Trulieve drafted Amendment 3 to limit competition. The lawsuit also claims the Florida GOP paid the TV stations to run the ad and sent out mailers with similar misleading information.
The Florida Republican Party has voiced strong opposition to Amendment 3, sending out mailers accusing “mega marijuana corporations” of a power grab. Trulieve contends these accusations are false, noting that Florida has 25 licensed medical-marijuana operators and that the proposed amendment would expand the number of licenses, fostering competition.
Republican leaders, including DeSantis, have openly opposed Amendment 3. DeSantis’ chief of staff, James Uthmeier, is leading efforts to defeat the measure, as well as Amendment 4, which seeks to enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution. State resources have been used to combat both initiatives, with the Florida Department of Transportation recently releasing public service announcements warning that legalizing marijuana could lead to more car accidents and higher insurance premiums.
Despite widespread GOP opposition, former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election, has voiced his support for the marijuana legalization measure.
Read: DeSantis-Led Committees Raise Over $1.5 Million To Oppose Florida Marijuana, Abortion Amendments
Trulieve’s lawsuit was filed after sending cease-and-desist letters to the TV stations, demanding they pull the “Big Weed” ad. The company alleges that the GOP acted with malice by knowingly spreading false information and refusing to retract it, aiming to mislead Florida voters.
Trulieve currently operates 151 dispensaries across Florida—more than any other medical-marijuana provider—and is responsible for nearly 38% of the state’s smokable marijuana sales, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The lawsuit seeks to “set the record straight” and hold those responsible for the deceptive campaign accountable.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.