Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Cannabis-Linked Money Is Backing Republicans Who Oppose Legalization

Cannabis-linked contributors reportedly gave America First Agriculture Action $11.5 million in June 2026. The committee later spent nearly $1.8 million backing 11 Republican House candidates, some of whom opposed legalization measures.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Six cannabis-linked businesses and related entities reportedly gave a combined $11.5 million to America First Agriculture Action in June 2026. The committee later spent nearly $1.8 million on independent ads supporting 11 Republican House candidates, some of whom had opposed cannabis legalization measures. The records document contributions and ad spending—not a deal, donor control, or a change in candidates’ positions.

Who gave $11.5 million, and to whom?

Marijuana Moment reported from Federal Election Commission records that six cannabis-linked businesses or related entities contributed $11.5 million to America First Agriculture Action in June 2026. Public Citizen’s analysis, based on OpenSecrets.org and FEC data through the second quarter of 2026, reports the same total.

Reported contributor Reported amount
Trulieve $2.5 million
Curaleaf $2.5 million
Verano $2.5 million
Vision Management Services, a Green Thumb Industries subsidiary $2.5 million
Arboretum Bidco, tied to AYR Wellness $1 million
Ascend Wellness Holdings $500,000

The amounts and affiliations in the table are as reported by Marijuana Moment; Public Citizen’s matching total appears in its 2026 campaign-finance analysis.

How the reported $15.05 million minimum is calculated

Marijuana Moment reported that America First Agriculture Action shares treasurer Charles Gantt with MAGA Inc. It also reported that American Rights and Reform PAC, a cannabis-industry-linked committee, gave $1.5 million to America First Agriculture Action and $2.05 million to MAGA Inc.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Including the six June contributions, Marijuana Moment calculated at least $15.05 million in cannabis-linked contributions to Trump-aligned committees. That is a reported minimum for the committees and transfers described in its account, not a total for the entire cannabis industry or all political spending. The PAC transfers are distinct from the six reported business and related-entity contributions.

What the committee spent on House races

Newsweek reported that America First Agriculture Action spent nearly $1.8 million on ads supporting 11 Republican House candidates in competitive races. Marijuana Moment also reported the candidate list and that the ads did not mention marijuana. Instead, the ads focused on topics including congressional stock trading and tax cuts.

The reported spending was for independent expenditures. Newsweek says such spending cannot be coordinated with candidates’ campaigns. The cited coverage describes support for the candidates, not direct campaign contributions from the six businesses or evidence that candidates directed the ads.

Republicans named in the reporting

Marijuana Moment’s September 14, 2026 report identified these 11 candidates as the recipients of the committee’s ad support:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Garden Planner – Garden Journal Planner and Log Book with Monthly & Weekly Checklists, Gardening Journal for Plant Care, Budget, and Harvest Tracking
  • Complete Garden Planner Journal and Log Book – This gardening planner helps gardeners plan layouts, record seeds and plants, track care routines, log harvests, and review each growing season in one organized garden planner and log book
  • Designed for Beginner & Everyday Gardeners – A practical garden journal and planner for backyard gardeners, plant lovers, vegetable growers, flower gardeners, and anyone who wants an easy way to stay organized from seed starting to harvest
  • Organized Sections for Real Garden Use – Includes garden layout pages, seed starting tracker, seed inventory, plant profile, watering schedule, soil pH tracker, sunlight tracker, pest and disease logs, harvest log, budget pages, monthly planner pages, and notes
  • Large A4 Spiral Bound Gardening Journal Notebook – The A4 size gives more writing space for planning, sketching garden beds, tracking plants, and recording notes. Black twin-wire spiral binding helps the garden journal spiral bound notebook lay flat while writing
  • Durable Cover & Smooth Writing Paper – Made with a transparent PVC protective cover, black spiral binding, and 100 GSM recyclable paper designed for everyday garden planning. A useful garden log book for home gardens, raised beds, containers, and seasonal planning
  • Rob Bresnahan
  • John James
  • David Schweikert
  • Mike Lawler
  • Ryan Mackenzie
  • Tom Kean Jr.
  • Young Kim
  • Juan Ciscomani
  • Scott Perry
  • Derrick Van Orden
  • Jen Kiggans

The report describes some of the supported Republicans as having opposed cannabis legalization measures; it does not establish that every candidate on the list held the same position. Its account of the ad spending and candidate positions is available from Marijuana Moment.

Why the donations draw scrutiny—and what they do not prove

Cannabis-linked money supporting Republicans who have opposed legalization stands out because the industry has a direct stake in federal and state cannabis policy. But a mismatch between a donor’s industry and a candidate’s reported position does not, on its own, explain why the contribution was made. The ads’ focus on stock trading and tax cuts also does not establish that the donors sought a particular cannabis-policy outcome.

The reported records show who contributed to a political committee and where that committee spent money. They do not show a quid pro quo, that donors controlled candidates’ views, that the contributions changed anyone’s position, or that the ads caused a legislative or regulatory result. Those claims would require evidence beyond the reported contributions and expenditures.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What Mike Lawler said about New York’s law

One supported candidate, New York Representative Mike Lawler, was reported as saying during a televised debate that the state’s legal cannabis law was “hurting” local communities. That is Lawler’s reported characterization, not independent evidence that legalization had that effect. The brief phrase is reported by Marijuana Moment.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.