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Billionaire Casino CEO is Funding Anti-Cannabis Campaign

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Anti-Cannabis CampaignRecords filed with Florida Divisions of Elections in early September show that billionaire Sheldon Adelson donated $1 million to combat a medical cannabis proposal.

The successful Las Vegas casino mogul, Adelson, donated to a political campaign to defeat Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which is also known as Amendment 2. If Amendment 2 passes, this legislation would allow individuals with specific debilitating diseases or conditions access to medical cannabis, given it is recommended by a licensed state physician. However, it appears Adelson has something against this life-saving alternative.

In opposition to Amendment 2, Adelson wrote a check for $1 million to Drug Free Florida Committee (also known as Vote No on 2) between September 3 and September 9. Adelson is the CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which has properties throughout the United States and Asia. Some of his well-known Las Vegas properties are The Venetian and The Palazzo in addition to Sands Expo & Convention Center.  He is well-known as a donor to the Republican campaign. His wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, is a founder of drug-abuse treatment centers in addition to being a physician.

This isn’t the first time billionaire Adelson has donated against medical cannabis legalization in Florida. Adelson donated $5.5 million to the Drug Free Florida committee, to fight against a medical cannabis initiative in 2014. In 2014, Florida voters just barely missed their chance of passing an ordinance to allow medical cannabis. They needed a 60 percent vote, but fell short at 57.6 percent of voters.

Adelson was listed as the 18th richest person in the world by Forbes in 2015. His net worth was reported as $31.4 billion. It has been reported that the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation supported a study that proved the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis. It is ironic that he continues to support against a medical cannabis program, when he has also supported telling research into the medical benefits of cannabis.

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