Florida Diverted $4M from Opioid Fund to Anti-Marijuana Ads

State's opioid advisory council was kept in the dark about the spending.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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A statewide advisory board set up to oversee how Florida spends millions of dollars from a nationwide opioid settlement deal was never told that Gov. Ron DeSantis' office directed more than $4 million from that fund to a media campaign against marijuana.

Why it matters

The diversion of opioid settlement funds to anti-marijuana ads raises questions about transparency and the proper use of resources intended to address the opioid crisis in Florida.

The details

According to the report, the Florida governor's office used over $4 million from the opioid settlement fund to finance a media campaign against marijuana, despite the advisory board tasked with overseeing the spending not being informed of this decision.

  • The advisory board was set up to oversee the spending of millions in opioid settlement funds.
  • The $4 million was diverted to the anti-marijuana ad campaign at an unspecified time.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida who directed over $4 million from the opioid settlement fund to an anti-marijuana media campaign.

Florida's Opioid Advisory Council

A statewide advisory board set up to oversee how Florida spends millions of dollars from a nationwide opioid settlement deal, but was not informed about the $4 million diversion to anti-marijuana ads.

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What’s next

The advisory council may investigate the diversion of funds and demand transparency from the governor's office.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns about the proper use of opioid settlement funds and the need for greater accountability and transparency in how such resources are allocated, especially when they are diverted from their intended purpose.