Lev Parnas claims to have spurred Ron DeSantis’ evolution on marijuana – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

A man who was key to Ron DeSantis’ 2018 campaign claims to have spurred the Governor’s policy evolution on cannabis.

Lev Parnas, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes, is talking about text messages that show Parnas’ unique role as a sherpa for the 2018 campaign for the Florida Governor.

And he’s contending that part of the bargain of moving Donald Trump and the former President’s donors to DeSantis included moving the candidate on the issue of medical marijuana.

“I was a very big cannabis supporter, and I knew Ron at the time was not, he was anti cannabis,” Parnas told Jim DeFede. “And I made it clear to him, I said to him, `Listen, Ron, it’s very difficult for me to support somebody that is going to go against things that I’m going to need, want in the state of Florida.

“And that’s when Ron turned around to me and said, `You know what? I would be open to thinking differently about cannabis if you were to give me Trump’s support.’”

DeFede notes that DeSantis evolved soon thereafter on medical marijuana, coming out in support of the substance by August of that year.

But the real evolution was in office soon after he was elected, where he came out against the smokable marijuana ban backed by former Gov. Rick Scott.

“I look at someone who has Lou Gehrig’s disease or terminal cancer or multiple sclerosis … I think the Florida voters who voted for that wanted them to have access to medical marijuana under the supervision…