DeSantis Sidelines Pro-Marijuana Republican in CFO Appointment, Stirring Intra-Party Friction

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making headlines again—this time not for what he did, but who he deliberately left out. His decision to bypass fellow Republican Joe Gruters for the interim chief financial officer role has stirred up tensions inside the GOP, especially with marijuana policy in the spotlight.

Gruters, a longtime political ally of Donald Trump and a former state GOP chair, didn’t make the cut. Why? According to DeSantis, it came down to Gruters’ past support for adult-use cannabis legalisation—a stance the governor made clear he sees as disqualifying.

A Split on Weed Within the GOP

At a press event Wednesday, DeSantis didn’t sugarcoat it. He said Gruters “sided with the mega-weed company Trulieve” and teamed up with “liberal Democrats” to push Amendment 3 last year.

That amendment, which aimed to legalise marijuana for adults in Florida, ultimately failed to make it onto the ballot. Still, the governor is holding the support for it against Gruters. “His record is contrary to what we told the voters we’d do,” DeSantis said bluntly.

This rift isn’t just about weed, though. It reflects a deeper split in the Republican party—especially in Florida—between traditional conservatives and libertarian-leaning voices who back cannabis reform.

Trump’s Guy Gets the Cold Shoulder

Gruters wasn’t just any contender. He’s a Trump loyalist through and through. He chaired Trump’s Florida campaign back in 2016 and has remained a vocal supporter ever since. His omission from the CFO role feels less like a snub and more like a statement.

This move could signal DeSantis is carving out his own political space—independent of Trump’s influence. It also feeds into speculation that DeSantis is positioning himself as a more hardline, culture-focused Republican.

One source close to the statehouse put it bluntly:

• “This isn’t just about weed. It’s about who’s running the show in Florida.”

The post of chief financial officer is no small thing. The CFO is one of four top elected officials in the state, overseeing billions in state funds, insurance regulation, and even unclaimed property.

Marijuana Reform: Still a Political Flashpoint

Cannabis legalisation has broad public support in Florida. Polls from the University of North Florida showed that about 70% of Floridians support adult-use marijuana legalisation. That includes strong majorities across party lines.

Yet top state Republicans, including DeSantis, remain staunchly opposed. The governor’s recent comments doubled down on his anti-cannabis stance.

In the same press conference, DeSantis suggested marijuana reform is part of a broader “progressive agenda” that Florida voters rejected. “We’re not California,” he said. “We’re not going to go down that road.”

The contradiction? The ballot initiative process exists precisely to bypass the legislature when it doesn’t reflect public sentiment. Still, opposition from the governor’s office and state attorney general has effectively kept cannabis off the ballot.

Gruters Responds With Measured Frustration

Joe Gruters hasn’t launched a full-on counterattack, but he isn’t pretending to be happy either. In a brief statement, he said he’s proud of his record and won’t apologise for supporting what “millions of Floridians want.”

A few lines stood out.

“I supported Amendment 3 because I believe the people of Florida deserve the right to vote on this issue. That’s all,” he said.

Gruters also noted his long service to the party and to Trump, subtly hinting at the irony that loyalty doesn’t seem to count as much anymore in DeSantis’s Florida.

There’s a growing feeling in Tallahassee that the governor’s inner circle has become increasingly closed off. One longtime GOP strategist put it this way: “Unless you’re 100% on the DeSantis message, you’re out.”

Who Did Get the Job?

So who stepped into the CFO role?

That would be Chris Spencer, DeSantis’s longtime budget director and someone who’s seen as fiercely loyal to the governor’s policy agenda. Spencer has never run for office and remains relatively unknown to the broader public. But insiders say his appointment is about control and ideological alignment, not popularity.

Here’s a quick look at the selection:

This kind of pick isn’t unusual for DeSantis, who has often prioritised inner-circle loyalty over public name recognition. It’s a model that’s worked for him before—especially with an eye on national ambitions.

What This Means for 2026

Though the interim CFO role is temporary, there’s a bigger election on the horizon. Voters will head to the polls in 2026 to elect a permanent CFO, and this latest shake-up could influence who’s on that ballot.

Gruters may still run. And if he does, this snub could become campaign fuel.

In fact, political insiders say this drama may end up energising pro-cannabis Republican voters—yes, they exist—and independents who see DeSantis’s stance as out of step with modern sentiment.

It’s worth noting that Florida has more registered independents than ever before, and marijuana policy remains one of the few issues with true bipartisan support.

For now, DeSantis has made his position clear: cross him on weed policy, and you’re out. Whether that strategy pays off long term remains to be seen.