The most expensive adult-use marijuana legalization campaign in U.S. history is picking up speed in Florida.
Six additional marijuana multistate operators have joined the quest of Tallahassee-based Trulieve Cannabis Corp. to transition Florida’s $2 billion medical marijuana market – the largest in the country – to adult use.
In addition to the new partners, legalization campaign committee Smart & Safe Florida announced Wednesday that it raised another $15 million toward the effort.
The MSOs joining the Trulieve-led initiative are:
- Miami-based Ayr Wellness, which operates 63 medical marijuana treatment centers in the state.
- Chicago-headquartered Cresco Labs, 33.
- New York-based Curaleaf Holdings, 61.
- Chicago-headquartered Green Thumb Industries, 15.
- Massachusetts-based Insa, 10.
- Chicago-headquartered Verano Holdings, 74.
The latest $15 million contributed to the legalization effort brings the total to at least $55 million.
More than $40 million was raised and spent by the end of 2023 by Trulieve, the leading retailer in Florida with 134 locations statewide.
By comparison, the spend for California’s successful adult-use measure, Proposition 64 in 2016, topped $25 million, and supporters of Ohio’s Issue 2 reported spending less than $7 million to legalize recreational cannabis last fall.
To read more, click on MJBizDaily