Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), currently running for governor, admitted to being arrested for selling small amounts of marijuana as a young adult. Despite benefiting from a pre-trial diversion program that wiped his record clean, Donalds has consistently opposed marijuana legalization and supported federal legislation to overturn similar sentencing reforms in Washington, D.C. His legislative record on cannabis is mixed, having supported marijuana banking and research bills while voting against legalization and security clearance protections for prior users.

Florida GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Admits Past Marijuana Sales While Opposing Reform

Mar 9, 2026

Source:

Kyle Jaeger

Marijuana Moment

Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, a leading GOP candidate for governor, recently dropped a bombshell by admitting he was arrested for selling weed as a young adult. While it was known he had a 1997 arrest, this is the first time he’s owned up to distribution. The real kicker? Donalds used a pre-trial diversion program to scrub his record—the exact kind of "second chance" reform he now fights against in D.C. While he supports banking and research, he remains a vocal opponent of full legalization and broader sentencing relief.

For the community, this is a classic case of "rules for thee, but not for me." It’s frustrating to see a politician benefit from the mercy of the system while trying to lock the door behind him for others. However, the fact that a former seller reached the halls of Congress proves how far we’ve come. This highlights why we need universal legalization and expungement: everyone deserves the same path to redemption that the Congressman enjoyed, not just those with political aspirations.