Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
The record of the candidate on marijuana policy is mixed. He opposes legalization of cannabis, but he has supported reform legislation in Congress. As governor, he has also taken steps to expand Florida’s medical pot program.
DeSantis appears to be in favor of the states’ right to determine their own cannabis policy, even though he personally opposes medical marijuana, and calls the smell of the plant “putrid.”
DeSantis is among a growing number of GOP presidential candidates whose views on marijuana policy differ significantly. He faces former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Governor. Nikki Haley (R)
Ron DeSantis, Republican presidential candidate, on marijuana:
Legislation and Policy Actions
Congress (January 2013, September 2018)
As a member of the House, DeSantis had the opportunity to vote on several pieces of cannabis reform legislation–including proposals related to marijuana banking, state protections and industrial hemp.
The fact that the congressman voted consistently in favor of spending bills amendments in 2014 and 2015 to protect state medical cannabis and recreational marijuana programs as well as hemp laws and CBD laws from federal interference is a positive for advocates.
He also voted repeatedly against legislation that would have prohibited federal funds being used to penalize state-legal marijuana businesses. he voted against legislation that would have allowed doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical marijuana to their patients.
DeSantis voted in favor of an amendment that would “allow higher education institutions to cultivate industrial hemp or grow it for agricultural or academic purposes.”
DeSantis, during his five years in the House of Representatives, did not sponsor any marijuana reform or other drug policy reform legislation.
Florida Governor (January 2019 to present)
DeSantis’s decision to remove the ban on medical cannabis patients smoking smokable marijuana was one of the most important cannabis decisions he made as governor, and he did this shortly after taking office in 2019.
He asked the legislature to send him legislation that would fulfill the wishes of the voters who voted to legalize medical marijuana by lifting the smoking ban. Otherwise, he would withdraw his appeal against a lower court decision which would continue to hold the prohibition unconstitutional.
Today, I filed a motion at the First District Court of Appeals requesting a halt to the opinion in the People United for Medical Marijuana v. Department of Health. I am looking forward to working with legislators to address the issue of smoking medical cannabis.
— Ron DeSantis 17 January 2019
DeSantis stated that “Florida voters approved medical marijuana by a large majority in 2016. I do not believe the legislation passed since has been adequate.” Voters wanted medical marijuana to dispensed the way it would be most beneficial for patients, including smoking.
He kept his promise to drop the case. A few months later, legislators sent him reform legislation removing the smoking ban. He thanked lawmakers for “working together to ensure that the will of voters is respected.”
The Florida Legislature deserves a big thank you for recognizing the will of the public and implementing medical marijuana. https://t.co/qETkdUaoUP
— Ron DeSantis 15 March 2019
In 2019, the Governor also signed, a bill that established an industrial hemp program for the state. This allowed the sale of hemp extracts with up to 0.3 percent by weight THC.
In the same year, approved 8 additional nurseries for medical cannabis to grow marijuana for patients within the state.
DeSantis, in 2022, signed legislation that exempts some medical cannabis records from the public record disclosure requirements. This includes records relating to a caregiver or patient’s personal identifying data, as well as a doctor’s federal Drug Enforcement Administration number and other identifying details.
In 2021, he signed a law that de-schedules CBD medications approved by the federal government at the state level.
In his budget request 2023, the governor called for increased funding for medical cannabis regulators. He asked legislators to pass a 2021 budget that included $4 million for lab testing of medical cannabis.
Florida’s Department of Health issued an emergency rule in 2022 under DeSantis. It limits patients up to 24,500mg of non-smokable marijuana for a seventy-day supply. The rule also establishes dosage caps for different forms of administration, such as edibles and tinctures. Patients can also only buy up to 2.5 ounces smokable marijuana in a period of 35 days.
The medical cannabis licensing fee was increased by another emergency rule that was implemented in the past year.
DeSantis is yet to act on the calls of lawmakers and officials for cannabis clemency, after President Joe Biden granted an annual mass pardon to those who had committed federal marijuana possession crimes.
He was also criticized for canceling last year’s Clemency Board Meeting, at which the former Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried(D) had asked members to consider mass marijuana pardons.
On the Campaign Trail
DeSantis is yet to publicly discuss marijuana policy since he announced his candidacy.
Previous Quotes and Social Media Posts
DeSantis has taken steps to legalize medical marijuana, as per the wishes of the voters. However, he is personally opposed to broader legalization. He told WJHG that in 2019, the reform would not be implemented “while i’m governor.”
He said that he believes the introduction of marijuana to teenagers or young people has a negative impact on their well-being.
DeSantis stated in 2019 that he would “implement the will of voters.” “They passed medical cannabis overwhelmingly. My view is that we have a Florida process when this happens. Then we shouldn’t be playing games.” We should simply implement it.”
“I don’t think that recreational marijuana is good for youth. “I think it will make people’s lives more difficult,” he said. “And I believe parents right now – it’s difficult to raise kids in the modern technology environment. You’ve got many distractions. To throw marijuana into that and make it more popular, I think it would make it hard for parents. We have to respect the wishes of voters on the medical front.
DeSantis said that in 2022 he would like lawmakers to pass legislation increasing the fees for medical marijuana business licenses. He stated that these are “very valuable licenses” and that he “would charge them an arm and leg” because “everyone wants these licenses.”
In 2022, the Governor complained that marijuana “smells like putrid” and that those jurisdictions who have legalized cannabis “have regretted it.”
“But the pungent smell that I would find in some places is something I do not want to see here,” said. I want people to breathe easily.”
He stated that governors cannot “just do that” when referring to the use of executive authority to legalize cannabis. He said that he does not personally believe in locking people up over cannabis.
replied. “But it’s not the same as wanting marijuana to be common like in other places.”
He said in 2021 that the cannabis available today has “a lot really bad things” in it.
He said, “It isn’t what someone would have had 30 years ago if they were in college doing something.” “You’ve got some really, really nasty stuff in there. I think that having the ability, to identify that is safety. And quite frankly, when you get to some of that stuff it’s definitely not medicinal.”
At one point in 2019 he compared Florida’s medical cannabis program to a “cartel”, expressing his skepticism over the law’s requirement that licensees control their products, from seed to sales.
He later changed his mind, repeating the “overwhelming” support for the medical marijuana initiative approved by voters in 2016. “We’ve got to enact legislation that will pass constitutional muster,” he said.
As a proponent of free markets, he didn’t like the way the organization was done. “You can probably do a number of different approaches, and it would still be constitutional.”
DeSantis , when asked about a proposal that would cap the THC content of cannabis products by 2021 said he “had not endorsed” that and that it was “not something that I am pushing.”
DeSantis believes that criminalizing and prohibiting certain drugs, such as fentanyl, should also be intensified.
He stated that in May 2023, “I believe we are now in a brand new era, with the rise of the fentanyl. I think it is important to be extremely tough in dealing with the fentanyl supply.” “I believe that we can do more to interdict, and hold the cartels more accountable. We also focus on the supply side.”
He promoted in February 2023 a video about the dangers associated with marijuana and other drugs, which he described as “designed to be a powerful tool.”
At an event on the opioid crisis in America, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-FL, plays a video warning about fentanyl laced substances and how “just one drink” or “a little marijuana” can be disastrous.
One person said, “I took one hit of pot and it led to other things, so I ended up in jail.” pic.twitter.com/L7sb2ftkkA
The Recount (@therecount 17 February 2023
A spokesperson for DeSantis criticised the cannabis stocks held by Fried, who was then running as a Democratic candidate for governor. She said she “put her own interests before what was best for the citizens of Florida.”
Fried regularly clashed against the governor, particularly during her gubernatorial campaign when she tried to distinguish herself as a pro-cannabis contender.
“Ron DeSantis does not understand cannabis,” Fried said to Marijuana Moment in last year . “He doesn’t get that this is about criminal justice reform and economic opportunity. He is not aware of the healthcare issues involved.” He doesn’t get it and wants to claim that it has a pungent smell.
The governor refused to take part in a lawsuit filed by the commissioner against the Justice Department. In the suit, the commissioner claimed that the federal law prohibiting medical cannabis patients from purchasing firearms was unconstitutional.
In 2021, a spokesperson said that the governor did not support the legalization of marijuana in order to aid the economic recovery after the coronavirus epidemic.
According to a survey conducted in 2021, 40 percent of Florida voters believe that Governor cares about medical marijuana patients .
DeSantis may have expressed his opposition to marijuana legalization but he hasn’t personally attacked a campaign actively working to put the issue on the ballot in 2024. The state’s attorney-general did, however, ask the Supreme Court to keep a reform measure off the ballot for May 2023 — just as she had done with an earlier legalization attempt.
Marijuana: My Personal Experience
DeSantis has not publicly discussed his personal use of marijuana. However, he was very clear about the “putrid” smell of cannabis.
Marijuana Under A DeSantis Presidency
DeSantis’ record on cannabis is mixed, but he appears to be generally in favor of the states being able to determine their own policy. It is unlikely that DeSantis would actively work to expand access to marijuana if he were elected president.
His votes in Congress against protecting banks who work with state-legal marijuana businesses and allowing VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana are a disappointment to advocates who have worked to secure these incremental reforms. They would also like to see an advocate for the issue at the Oval Office.
DeSantis, in his role as president, would likely take a hands-off approach when it comes to reforming cannabis policies, just as he has done largely as governor.
Where Donald Trump, the presidential candidate, stands on marijuana
The first time that Marijuana Moment was published, it featured Ron DeSantis’s position on marijuana.
