Ken Griffin has pledged $12 million to stop a ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. Griffin, the founder of Citadel, expressed his opposition to Amendment 3 in an op-ed for the Miami Herald, stating that the initiative could harm children and lead to increased crime.
The billionaire hedge-fund manager, who recently expanded his company’s presence in Florida, is directing his funds toward an effort to block Amendment 3. Griffin wrote that the amendment’s passage would create a monopoly for large marijuana dispensaries and permit pot use in both public and private areas throughout the state.
Griffin – an early backer of failed presidential candidate Ron DeSantis – also emphasized the adverse effects of marijuana legalization, including more dangerous roads, a higher risk of youth addiction, and elevated crime rates. He referred to similar measures in states like California, Colorado, and New York and the ill effects of legalization.
Citing a 2022 study from the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Griffin pointed out an increase in traffic crashes and fatalities following the legalization of recreational marijuana. However, research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests no correlation between legal cannabis and an increase in substance-use disorders or other negative outcomes among adults.
“I have lived the nightmare of misguided politicians in other states whose policies are destroying jobs, fostering crime, ravaging schools, and damaging communities,” Griffin said in a statement explaining his opposition to the ballot measure. He added: My dream is for all Floridians to continue to have even more opportunities, and I am committed to supporting policies and principles that will further elevate Florida as the greatest place to live, work, and raise a family in America.”
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