--- title: DeSantis Faces Backlash For Using Opioid Settlement Funds On Anti-Cannabis Campaign description: Governor Ron DeSantis faces criticism for using opioid settlement funds to finance an anti-cannabis campaign, raising concerns over the misallocation of resources intended for the opioid crisis. image: https://420intel.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/cash.jpeg --- [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) ### Press ESC to close [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) # DeSantis Faces Backlash For Using Opioid Settlement Funds On Anti-Cannabis Campaign - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - [Cannabis Politics](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-politics) - 28 October 2024 Florida is using millions of dollars in settlement money from opioid manufacturers and distributors to bankroll Governor **Ron DeSantis**'s ongoing anti-cannabis campaign, according to state records. State law stipulates the opioid settlement trust fund is meant to "abate the opioid epidemic" and provide resources for affected communities. However, the state Department of Children and Families, reported the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, spent $4 million to pay a marketing agency for an "advertising campaign aimed at educating Floridian families and youth about the dangers of marijuana, opioid, and drug use," raising questions about misusing resources earmarked for the opioid crisis. The outlet noted that the department did not respond to questions about what that campaign includes, though in recent weeks it has released two ads warning about the dangers of marijuana use among teenagers, linking cannabis use to schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. One menacing ad says that marijuana now is "engineered by corporations all for one purpose: to rewire the human mind." ## **Misuse Of Funds** Funds from the opioid settlement were secured through lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and distributors, such as Purdue Pharma, which was responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic that killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, many from overdoses connected to Purdue’s **OxyContin**. ## **Bipartisan Group Speaks Out** A group of bipartisan officials and public health experts voiced concerns over what they said was a misuse of public money by the DeSantis administration to undermine the cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, but mostly noting that such a campaign does not align with the primary purpose of the opioid settlement. Over the next 20 years, Florida is expected receive about $3 billion in money from lawsuits. "Under no circumstance should the state government be able to decide, without input from the legislature, that $50 million owed to the taxpayers will be spent on a political agenda," said attorney **John Morgan** in a press conference Friday along with State Senators **Joe Gruters** (R) and **Jason Pizzo **(D). ## **Other Tax-Payer Funded Ads** A tax-payer-funded ad in September sparked outrage when the Department of Transportation (DOT) equated cannabis with DUI crashes, saying that legalized marijuana is “putting everyone at risk." Another in mid-October stunned many Floridians when the DOT came out with ad in which three sheriffs make various claims about the harms of cannabis, including one who suggested that marijuana use is associated with a greater risk of domestic violence.   [by Maureen Meehan](https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/10/41564290/desantis-faces-backlash-for-using-opioid-settlement-funds-on-anti-cannabis-campaign) [Cannabis Politics](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-politics) ![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=200&height=200&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) #### [Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) At 420 Intel, we cover cannabis legalization news throughout the world, offer reliable information for cannabis business owners, detail technological advances that impact the marijuana industry, cover marijuana rallies from across the globe, and everything in between. - - - [Medical Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/medical-cannabis-news) [![FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Pain Pill, As Medical Marijuana Remains A Proven Alternative For Relief](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20features%20a%20sleek%2c%20modern%20pill%20bottle%20labeled%20Journavx%2c%20prominently%20displaying%20its%20brand%20name%20in%20bold%20letters%20against%20a%20clean%20white%20backgro.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=The%20image%20features%20a%20sleek%2c%20modern%20pill%20bottle%20labeled%20Journavx%2c%20prominently%20displaying%20its%20brand%20name%20in%20bold%20letters%20against%20a%20clean%20white%20backgro.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/fda-approves-first-non-opioid-pain-pill-as-medical-marijuana-remains-a-proven-alternative-for-relief) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 3 February 2025 #### [FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Pain Pill, As Medical Marijuana Remains A Proven Alternative For Relief](https://420intel.com/blog/fda-approves-first-non-opioid-pain-pill-as-medical-marijuana-remains-a-proven-alternative-for-relief) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first new pain reliever to hit the market in... [Medical Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/medical-cannabis-news) [![Historic Win: Cannabis Eases Opioid Use in Cancer](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/testeur-de-cbd-1zAZbHgxmk4-unsplash.jpg?width=550&height=395&name=testeur-de-cbd-1zAZbHgxmk4-unsplash.jpg)](https://420intel.com/blog/historic-win-cannabis-eases-opioid-use-in-cancer) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 12 November 2025 #### [Historic Win: Cannabis Eases Opioid Use in Cancer](https://420intel.com/blog/historic-win-cannabis-eases-opioid-use-in-cancer) A major national study has revealed a compelling link between legal cannabis access and reduced **...** [Medical Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/medical-cannabis-news) [![Cannabis terpenes shown to prevent pain in new study](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20serene%20laboratory%20setting%20with%20a%20focus%20on%20cannabis%20research%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20scientist%20in%20a%20white%20lab%20coat%20carefully%20examines%20a%20glass%20vial%20containing%20a%20clear%20liquid%20labeled%20with%20various%20terpene%20names%20such%20as%20Linalool%20and%20Gerani-1.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20serene%20laboratory%20setting%20with%20a%20focus%20on%20cannabis%20research%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20scientist%20in%20a%20white%20lab%20coat%20carefully%20examines%20a%20glass%20vial%20containing%20a%20clear%20liquid%20labeled%20with%20various%20terpene%20names%20such%20as%20Linalool%20and%20Gerani-1.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/cannabis-terpenes-shown-to-prevent-pain-in-new-study) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 31 March 2025 #### [Cannabis terpenes shown to prevent pain in new study](https://420intel.com/blog/cannabis-terpenes-shown-to-prevent-pain-in-new-study) It's common knowledge that many use cannabis and natural products to treat pain symptoms,... - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) Back to Top ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Buzz", "url" : "https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz" }, "dateModified" : "2024-10-28T15:23:14.661Z", "datePublished" : "2024-10-28T15:23:14.000Z", "headline" : "DeSantis Faces Backlash For Using Opioid Settlement Funds On Anti-Cannabis Campaign", "image" : [ "https://420intel.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/cash.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://420intel.com/blog/desantis-faces-backlash-for-using-opioid-settlement-funds-on-anti-cannabis-campaign", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://420intel.com/hubfs/Asset%2016.png" }, "name" : "420 Intel" } } ```