[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-article-florida-democrats-seize-on-grand-jury-report-alleging-medicaid-funds-misused-to-fight-marijuana-legalization-9f076b7b":3},{"data":4},{"_id":5,"slug":6,"articleType":7,"body":8,"createdAt":17,"dek":18,"entities":19,"headline":30,"imageAlt":31,"imageUrl":32,"keyFacts":33,"language":47,"publishedAt":48,"seo":49,"sources":52,"summary":57,"updatedAt":58},"6a9191a4aeddfad21a39f9f9","florida-democrats-seize-on-grand-jury-report-alleging-medicaid-funds-misused-to-fight-marijuana-legalization-9f076b7b","other",[9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16],"Florida Democrats went on the offensive Thursday against Republican leaders after the release of a statewide grand jury report that found $10 million in Medicaid funds were “misappropriated” and wound up being used for “political activities,” including a campaign against recreational marijuana legalization.","The 19-page report, obtained by CBS Miami, did not result in charges but criticized several top state officials, including Attorney General James Uthmeier and Jason Weida, now chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis. It also said U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, the former state attorney general, knew about the transfer of Medicaid funds from a $67 million drug overpricing settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation.","The foundation “quickly funneled” the money to two non-profit groups that directed some of it to a campaign against the marijuana legalization effort. The probe originated after the Republican-controlled House held hearings in spring 2025 amid speculation that First Lady Casey DeSantis, who started the Hope Florida initiative, might run for governor.","Democrats say the report shows top Republicans knowingly flouted Florida law by diverting money paid by Centene Corp., a managed care company, from state coffers to political action committees Uthmeier controlled. “This is blatant corruption,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told reporters. “And for 30 years, Republicans have controlled this state, and somewhere along the way, they started acting like taxpayer money was theirs to spend, state government was theirs to exploit, and nobody had the right to question them.”","Uthmeier and DeSantis played down the findings. The governor said the only apparent crime was committed by “whoever leaked the grand jury report,” and insisted the transfer was “legally sound.” Uthmeier called the investigation a “politically motivated witch hunt driven by Democrats and a far-left Democrat state attorney in Tallahassee.”","Democrats, noting the Republican-controlled House launched the original investigation, insist the issue is not partisan. Jose Javier Rodriguez, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, said, “My opponent is a criminal. He’s a criminal who should resign.” Rodriguez blamed Uthmeier directly, saying he “was the person with authority here. It was his [political] committee. He directed the money.”","The grand jury report stated, “Nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida. This decision was the original misappropriation, and no witness would take responsibility for making the decision or had any memory of who made it.” Because “virtually everyone involved is a lawyer and acted on the advice of other lawyers,” the grand jury concluded that fact would pose an “impediment to criminal prosecution.”","Democratic U.S. senatorial candidate Angie Nixon called the diversion the “ultimate betrayal of working families” and said she would file complaints against Uthmeier, Moody, and Weida with the Florida Bar. Democratic gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly released a statement saying the investigation must be reopened: “The scheme defunded healthcare services for poor children to instead advance the political agenda of Gov. Ron DeSantis.”","2026-08-28T13:48:20.239Z","A statewide grand jury found $10 million in Medicaid funds were misappropriated and funneled to political activities opposing recreational marijuana, prompting calls for resignations.",{"brands":20,"products":21,"markets":22,"organizations":24},[],[],[23],"Florida",[25,26,27,28,29],"Florida Democratic Party","Hope Florida Foundation","Centene Corp.","Florida Phoenix","CBS Miami","Florida Democrats Seize on Grand Jury Report Alleging Medicaid Funds Misused to Fight Marijuana Legalization","Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried speaks at a press conference about the grand jury report on Medicaid funds.","",[34,38,41,44],{"claim":35,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":37},"A statewide grand jury found $10 million in Medicaid funds were misappropriated and used for political activities, including opposing recreational marijuana legalization.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.marijuanamoment.net\u002Fflorida-dems-pounce-on-grand-jury-finding-that-desantis-admin-misappropriated-medicaid-funds-to-fight-marijuana-legalization\u002F","6a9191a40385656fb2e29d05",{"claim":39,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":40},"The grand jury report criticized Attorney General James Uthmeier, Jason Weida, and U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody for their roles in the transfer.","6a9191a40385656fb2e29d06",{"claim":42,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":43},"The funds came from a $67 million drug overpricing settlement with Centene Corp. and were funneled through the Hope Florida Foundation to political action committees.","6a9191a40385656fb2e29d07",{"claim":45,"sourceUrl":36,"_id":46},"No criminal charges were filed because the grand jury found that the involvement of lawyers acting on legal advice posed an impediment to prosecution.","6a9191a40385656fb2e29d08","en","2026-08-28T13:48:22.427Z",{"title":50,"description":51},"Florida Dems Slam Grand Jury Report on Medicaid Funds","Florida Democrats attack GOP leaders after grand jury finds $10M in Medicaid funds misused to fight marijuana legalization.",[53],{"name":54,"url":36,"trustTier":55,"_id":56},"Marijuana Moment","trade","6a9191a40385656fb2e29d04","Florida Democrats are attacking Republican leaders after a grand jury report found $10 million in Medicaid funds were misappropriated and used for political activities, including opposition to a recreational marijuana legalization amendment. The report names top officials but resulted in no charges.","2026-08-28T13:48:22.430Z"]