Lev Parnas, the former Trump associate who served prison time for his role in the Ukraine scandal that led to Donald Trump's first impeachment, is running for Congress in Florida's 20th district as an independent candidate with cannabis legalization as a central policy plank.
Parnas revealed in a recent interview that he came close to becoming a major player in the cannabis industry before his political entanglements. He was on track to join Trulieve, one of Florida's largest medical marijuana operators, in a business capacity before federal charges derailed those plans.
"I was literally days away from finalizing a deal with Trulieve," Parnas said, describing how his cannabis industry ambitions evaporated when he became a central figure in the Ukraine investigation in 2019.
The Cannabis Connection
Before his legal troubles, Parnas had positioned himself as an advocate for federal marijuana reform within Trump's orbit. He claims to have presented a memo to Trump outlining the benefits of cannabis legalization, though the proposal apparently gained little traction within the administration.
Trulieve has grown into one of the nation's largest multi-state operators since Parnas's near-involvement, with operations in 11 states and over $1.3 billion in revenue last year. The company dominates Florida's medical marijuana market with roughly 50% market share and 191 dispensaries statewide.
Parnas's potential role with the company remains unclear, and Trulieve has not publicly commented on any past discussions with him. The timeline would have placed these conversations around 2018 or early 2019, a period of rapid expansion for the Florida-based cannabis company.
From Federal Prison to Federal Candidate
Parnas served time in federal prison after being convicted on campaign finance violations related to his work with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in Ukraine. He was released in 2023 and has since positioned himself as a Trump critic and whistleblower.
His congressional campaign in Florida's heavily Democratic 20th district faces long odds. The district, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, is currently represented by Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Running as an independent without party backing or significant campaign infrastructure presents substantial challenges.
But Parnas is centering his platform on cannabis reform, arguing that federal legalization would benefit Florida's economy and align with voter preferences. Florida voters approved medical marijuana in 2016 with 71% support, and polls consistently show majority support for adult-use legalization.
The Policy Platform
Parnas advocates for full federal legalization, descheduling marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and expunging past cannabis convictions. He also supports allowing Florida's existing medical operators to transition into an adult-use market if voters approve a recreational measure.
Florida voters will decide on adult-use legalization in November 2024, with Amendment 3 on the ballot. The measure needs 60% approval to pass. If successful, it would make Florida the largest adult-use cannabis market in the Southeast.
"The federal government has no business telling states what to do with cannabis," Parnas said, echoing arguments made by both progressive Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans.
What's Next
Parnas faces an uphill battle in a district where name recognition cuts both ways. His notoriety from the Trump impeachment saga may attract media attention, but converting that into votes in a crowded field remains uncertain.
The Florida primary is set for August 2024, with the general election in November. Parnas is running as an independent, meaning he'll appear on the November ballot regardless of primary results.
Whether his cannabis advocacy resonates with voters or gets overshadowed by his controversial past will become clear as the campaign progresses. For now, he represents an unusual case study in political rehabilitation through drug policy reform.
This article is based on original reporting by hightimes.com.
