Marijuana legalization attracts more ad spend than presidential election
Presidential ad spending in Florida is plummeting as the 2024 election season heats up, with marijuana legalization emerging as a major issue in the state.
Just $1.4 million was spent on television ads between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Florida, a sharp drop from previous cycles, according to media tracking firm AdImpact.
By comparison, TV ad spending during the 2016 presidential election was $55 million, compared to $177 million in 2020.
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$68 million poured into marijuana legalization
In stark contrast, Amendment 3, which seeks to legalize marijuana, attracted a whopping $68 million in advertising spending, more than any other political cause on Florida's ballot.
According to local media reports, Trulieve Cannabis Corp. TCNNF spent $55 million to support the amendment through support from the group Smart & Safe Florida.
Opponents of the amendment, including the Florida Republican Party and No. 3, spent a combined $11.7 million to defeat the bill.
Related article: Cannabis sales slow in Florida market: Is this $100 million bet really worth the hype?
budget cuts
Both major political parties have cut presidential campaign budgets, and Florida's once-important battleground status has diminished. Harris has spent just $539,000 on TV ads in the state, but Donald Trump and the national Republican Party virtually ignored it, confident they could secure Florida's 30 electoral votes. I am doing it.
In contrast, local media reported that the state remained a battleground for social issues. Along with the cannabis initiative, the Fourth Amendment, which aims to protect abortion rights, attracted $32.8 million in advertising dollars.
With more than $100 million spent on these two amendments, it's clear that marijuana and abortion rights are attracting far more Florida voter attention and money than the presidential election.
Read next: What Trump learned about marijuana that DeSantis didn't know and why Republicans are becoming cannabis friendly
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