Is DeSantis Really Committing to Home-Grown in Florida?
Governor Ron DeSantis has been a hot topic in Florida lately, especially after his recent comments surrounding home-grown weed under the recreational marijuana amendment. But considering his past comments and political moves on the subject, Floridians are left wondering whether or not he’s actually on board with home-grown weed or if his recent comments are just a political trick to sink Amendment 3.
He’s been railing against Trulieve’s supposed monopoly on the industry, positioning himself as a champion of personal liberties—but is he really? Floridians deserve to know if their governor is fighting for their freedom or just playing politics
The Governor’s Mixed Messages
DeSantis’s stance on cannabis is a lot more complicated than it seems. A few months back, he vetoed a bill that would’ve put the hemp industry on life support, siding with small businesses and everyday Floridians who rely on hemp-derived products like delta-8 THC, considering that medical marijuana isn’t anywhere near as accessible.
That move earned him a lot of love from the hemp industry, especially since it kept accessible cannabis alternatives on the market. Some people speculated that that move was also an attempt at gaining the trust of voters, and it ended up being fruitful as many hemp businesses stepped up to support DeSantis in his Vote No on 3 campaign.
Regardless, DeSantis has been clear about his opinions on weed. He’s brought up everything from the smell to fears about increased crime. “Understand: Your life will be impacted by this. It will change the quality of life in our communities. You will smell it when you’re walking down many of these streets, particularly in our urban areas,” DeSantis said. He’s made it sound like if Amendment 3 passes, the whole state will be reeking of weed and attracting the wrong kind of tourists— and Florida’s family-friendly appeal is a huge money maker.
He’s also warned about the potential rise in crime and public health issues. In one interview, he pointed to places like Denver and Los Angeles, saying, “Look what’s happened in Denver, Colorado. Look what’s happened in Los Angeles, New York City. I don’t want this state to be reeking of marijuana. We’re doing fine. We don’t need to do that.”
More or less, he’s not and never has been, fully on board. He’s been trying to raise money to campaign against Amendment 3, but what he’s earned is pennies on the dollar compared to what Trulieve has put up— and that brings us to the next point.
The Trulieve Issue
Recently, DeSantis took a few shots at Trulieve, Florida’s biggest cannabis company. He’s made it clear he thinks Trulieve is trying to create a “corporate monopoly” over the state’s weed market, using Amendment 3 to lock everyone else out. It is indeed suspicious that a big corporation spent over $60 million to push the rec amendment in Florida, which is why DeSantis is tapping into that distrust, painting Trulieve as “Big Weed” out to dominate Florida. The company also makes up almost a quarter of all of the medical dispensaries in Florida.
But he’s kind of got himself cornered at the moment. Recently, he called out Amendment 3 for not allowing home grow, saying that banning Floridians from growing their own cannabis “violates personal liberties” and hands all the power to Trulieve. So, he could either be genuinely advocating for home cultivation, or it could just be a convenient argument to get people to vote “no.”
On the surface, DeSantis’s support for home-grown weed sounds like a win for personal freedom. After all, if you’re allowed to buy weed, you should be allowed to grow it. Plenty of other states that legalized recreational weed let people do just that. But in Florida, Amendment 3 doesn’t touch home grow, thanks to the state’s single-subject rule for ballot measures. Including home cultivation would’ve disqualified the whole amendment from being on the ballot.
Trulieve says the lack of home-grow provisions isn’t about corporate greed—it’s about following Florida law. They’ve supported home grow in other states, and they claim they’d push for it here in Florida if Amendment 3 passes. They believe there’s a lot of work to be done, but things can only unfold one thing at a time under Florida law.
However, DeSantis isn’t having it. He’s calling it a move to force Floridians to buy from big corporations, and he’s betting that’s enough to turn voters off. The problem is, he’s been against it this whole time. If Amendment 3 were to fail over this issue, there’s no telling when the next chance to vote on it would arise.
In Florida, failed constitutional amendments can be reintroduced, but the whole process would start over— including collecting all the signatures needed to get it back on the ballot. There is no mandatory waiting period to propose a similar recreational amendment, but the process can be time-consuming and expensive. Not to mention, it would need to be reviewed by the Supreme Court and proposed again when there was a better chance of getting that majority vote— which usually isn’t right after a failed measure.
The thing is that if home growing is the thing that people get hung up on on this vote, it’ll still be an issue next time around because of the single subject rule. DeSantis is banking on that. Based on his past comments and his stance on cannabis, the whole home-grow conversation seems to be an excuse to rally against Amendment 3. It’s likely got nothing to do with Floridian’s rights to grow their own weed at home.
It sure paints a pretty picture, though.
A Bait and Switch or Something Else?
With DeSantis hinting that he’s all for home grow, he’s trying to come across as the guy defending Floridians’ rights. But based on his past comments, it’s highly unlikely that he’s prepared to back it up. If Amendment 3 failed, DeSantis probably wouldn’t be the first person in line at the polls to vote yes on the issue just because home-growing rules were added to the new amendment.
He’d still be adamantly against it. That said, it’s more likely that he’s just trying to split the pro-weed voters and keep Amendment 3 from passing in the first place.
It’s a clever political play: make it sound like Amendment 3 is flawed because it doesn’t give people the right to grow their own, and then imply that maybe, just maybe, he’ll be the one to make home grow happen—if the amendment fails. It’s a classic “carrot-and-stick” approach, and it might just work.
But the strategy could backfire, too. By bringing up home grow, DeSantis is drawing attention to something a lot of Floridians want. If voters start thinking he supports home cultivation, it could end up energizing the movement for broader legalization, regardless of what happens with Amendment 3. If it passes in November, home growing provisions could be the next thing on the to-do list. On the other hand, Trulieve may pull its funding and monopolize, as DeSantis suggests.
As Floridians get ready to vote in November, they need to ask themselves: Is Governor DeSantis really fighting for their right to grow weed, or is he just trying to muddy the waters? On one hand, his criticisms of Amendment 3 raise some valid points about corporate influence and the need for real competition in the cannabis market. On the other, Trulieve’s involvement in pushing for legalization is complicated by their past—and the reality of Florida’s laws.
Floridians Deserve the Truth About Home Grow Marijuana
If DeSantis genuinely believes in home grow, then he should be ready to back that up with action. If Amendment 3 fails, does he have a plan to legalize home cultivation? Or is this just a convenient talking point to sway voters?
Amendment 3 needs 60% of the vote to pass, and with polls showing mixed support, every argument counts. Floridians deserve more than political games—they deserve the truth. It’s unclear whether or not DeSantis is ready to deliver on his implied promises, or if he’s just hoping to derail the movement for legalization without offering anything better.
Ultimately, the choice is up to the voters. Amendment 3 could be the first step towards broader cannabis freedoms in Florida, or it could be shot down in favor of something else. But one thing’s for sure: Floridians need to keep their eyes open and demand accountability. If DeSantis is going to talk the talk about personal liberties, then he needs to walk the walk, by allowing medical patients to grow their own marijuana plants. Otherwise, it’s just a trick.
