Photo: Joe Gruters.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump surprised many Florida Republicans when he endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that could legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. He did so roughly six weeks after state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, did the same.

Gruters and Trump share a years-long connection, as the former Republican Party of Florida chair chaired the Florida arm of Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign. So did the Florida lawmaker influence Trump becoming the most prominent Republican ever to support decriminalizing cannabis.
“You will have to ask him that,” Gruters said, “but I am thankful for our continued relationship, and to me this is a winning issue.”

Gruters in July came out in support of Amendment 3, and shortly after announced plans to file implementing legislation that would regulate smoking pot in public places. Should the measure pass, Gruters said he wants Florida law modeled off existing statute in Arizona, where marijuana may be consumed recreationally but with significant restrictions on the time, place and manner.

The marijuana initiative will appear as Amendment 3 on the November ballot statewide. At least 60% of voters in that election must approve it for the language to be added to Florida’s constitution.

Of note, the position puts him at odds with Gov. Ron DeSantis. After Trump announced his support for the amendment, DeSantis’ senior staff attacked Gruters for it.

“It’s a shame that someone like Joe Gruters would support an amendment that has virtually no checks on where and how marijuana can be consumed—putting kids at risk,” posted James Uthmeier, DeSantis’ chief of staff, on X. “Someone should check who has given him political (money) and then see who is backing this amendment.”

That seems to be an implication Gruters accepted political donations from Trulieve, the state’s largest medical marijuana provider and the largest backer for Amendment 3. The company has not donated anything to Gruters’ 2026 campaign for Governor, but the company did give $1,000 to Gruters’ Senate campaigns in 2020 and 2022. Gruters is not up for election this cycle.

Gruters waived off the potential for conflict with the Governor this year or through 2026, when both men will serve out their last two years in their current offices. The Sarasota Senator was the first lawmaker in the state to endorse Trump over DeSantis for president this cycle. “None of these people liked me anyway,” he said of the Governor’s staff.

He also noted Trump took another position on a Florida ballot measure. After drawing some fire from members of his own party for criticizing Florida’s six-week abortion ban, Trump said he will vote against Amendment 4. That would return Florida law to its state before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Trump said that would remove the ability for Florida to stop abortions after a fetus can, according to some studies, feel pain.

That’s an issue where DeSantis, Trump and Gruters agree. Gruters filed “pain-capable” abortion bans even before Roe was overturned, and he voted for Florida’s current six-week ban. He said no political issue is as important to him as restricting abortions, and suggested the Governor would more wisely use his capital defeating Amendment 4.

Gruters said he can’t take credit for Trump’s stance on either amendment. “I talked to him about both amendments, but lots of people talk to President Trump,” he said. But he’s happy to be in complete alignment with Trump on both measures.

Photo: Joe Gruters.