Header Image: State Circuit Court Judge Angela Dempsey
Marijuana Moment
A Florida judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) use of taxpayer dollars to fund a state agency’s ad criticizing marijuana legalization ahead of a vote on a legalization initiative on the November ballot. But advocates still got some welcome news from a new survey showing two in three voters plan to support the measure, which the pollster said signals that it’s “on track” to pass.
With just two weeks until Election Day, supporters and opponents have stepped up their efforts, with an emphasis on advertising and endorsements. DeSantis, who strongly opposes the initiative known as Amendment 3, has faced allegations of weaponizing state departments to push anti-legalization narratives through various PSAs in recent weeks—prompting one Democratic state senator to sue over what he claimed was an unconstitutional appropriation of tax dollars.
But on Thursday, State Circuit Court Judge Angela Dempsey tossed the suit, agreeing with attorneys for the state that Sen. Jason Pizzo (D) lacked standing and failed to state a claim in the challenge, Politico reported. The Department of Transportation ad at the center of the lawsuit didn’t directly mention Amendment 3, but it attempted to link legalization to increased impaired driving.
Read the full report. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/florida-judge-tosses-lawsuit-against-desantis-admin-over-anti-marijuana-ads-as-new-poll-shows-legalization-ballot-initiative-passing/
