Advertisment: OHP » OHP Order 112 » CBT ROS Banner 970x250 July 2025 » ohp-april-botanigard.Xr9R0z1R68.gif.avif

5 Months After MMJ's Big Win, Anti-Drug Group Helps Write Rules


TALLAHASSEE — An anti-drug group opposed to medical marijuana is helping craft Florida laws on pot’s expanded use — a cause its founders tried and failed to defeat during last year’s elections.

The St. Petersburg-based Drug Free America Foundation is one of several anti-drug groups tied to conservative financiers Mel and Betty Sembler that opposed constitutional amendments legalizing medical marijuana in 2014 and 2016. The Semblers, who founded Drug Free America, gave $1 million for a political committee called Drug Free Florida, which fought against last year’s amendment that provided greater access to the drug.

Advertisment: Hanwha Vision » Hanwha Vision Order 78 » CBT ROS 300x250 Medium Rectangle July 2025 » D53_Cannabis-Business-Times_300x250_v1
Advertisment: Cannabis Business Times » Cannabis Business Times Best Cannabis Companies to Work For » CBT Best Companies 2026 ROS Parallax Reveal » bcc-ads-730x570
Advertisment: Cannabis Business Times » Cannabis Business Times Best Cannabis Companies to Work For » CBT Best Companies 2026 ROS Parallax Reveal » bcc-ads-730x570

RELATED: Florida Congressmen Introduce Bill to Make Cannabis Easier to Get

Yet despite 71 percent of voters supporting medical marijuana, the foundation is having a say in the legislation that will determine the drug’s availability. Drug Free America’s executive director, Calvina Fay, lauded current legislation during a March meeting, thanking the House sponsor for including so many of the group’s suggestions in the bill.

Advertisment: Frank Mayer » Frank Mayer Order 84 » CBT ROS Medium Rectangle 300x250 July 2025 » CBT Web Ad - July 2025

ALSO READ: Canada LP Aphria Buys Into Florida’s Market

The group and its lobbying arm, Save Our Society from Drugs, sent state lawmakers a list of suggestions that it says will prevent Florida’s medical cannabis program from being abused. About half of the 43 suggestions made it into HB 1397 pushed by the Florida House’s majority leader, Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero.

Read more.

STATE BY STATE: Florida Cannabis News

Advertisment: Hanwha Vision » Hanwha Vision Order 78 » CBT ROS 300x250 Medium Rectangle July 2025 » D53_Cannabis-Business-Times_300x250_v1
Advertisment: Hanwha Vision » Hanwha Vision Order 78 » CBT ROS 300x250 Medium Rectangle July 2025 » D53_Cannabis-Business-Times_300x250_v1
Page 1 of 487
Next Page
Advertisment: Greentank » Greentank Order 111 » CBT ROS Mobile Adhesion 360x120 July 2025 » GT AC ADS 600X200@2x