Lev Parnas Claims Trump Blocked Trulieve Cannabis Deal in 2019

Parnas Says He Connected Trulieve to Trump Circle Before Impeachment

Parnas told High Times he introduced Trulieve executives to Trump campaign operatives in late 2019, positioning the Florida-based MSO as a potential donor and policy ally ahead of the 2020 election. The talks centered on Trulieve's interest in federal cannabis reform and the campaign's receptiveness to industry funding, according to Parnas. He didn't specify which Trulieve executives participated. He also didn't say whether any money changed hands before the discussions ended.

Parnas was indicted in October 2019 on charges of funneling foreign money into U.S. political campaigns. He was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 20 months in federal prison. His claims in the High Times interview haven't been independently verified by CannIntel, and neither Trulieve nor the Trump campaign responded to requests for comment by press time.

Trulieve's Political Spending History in Florida

Trulieve has spent more than $60 million on Florida ballot initiatives since 2016, making it the state's most politically active cannabis operator. The company bankrolled the 2024 Amendment 3 campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis in Florida, which failed with 55.8% support—short of the 60% threshold required for constitutional amendments in the state.

CEO Kim Rivers has publicly criticized federal prohibition but hasn't disclosed direct engagement with Trump's political operation. Federal lobbying disclosures, filed quarterly with the Senate, show no Trump-affiliated consultants or PACs as recipients during the 2019–2020 cycle.

Trump's Shifting Cannabis Stance Complicates Industry Bets

Trump's cannabis policy has oscillated between state-rights rhetoric and enforcement crackdowns, leaving operators uncertain where he stands in 2026. His Justice Department rescinded the Obama-era Cole Memo in 2018, signaling a harder federal line on state-legal markets. Yet Trump also voiced support for the STATES Act, a federalism bill that would've shielded state programs from DOJ interference.

In April 2024, Trump said he'd "probably" support rescheduling cannabis but stopped short of endorsing full legalization. That ambiguity has made direct political engagement with Trump a high-risk, high-reward play for MSOs, particularly those operating in swing states where federal enforcement decisions carry outsize weight. For full background on this story, see the CannIntel topic hub on Trump Cannabis Policy.

Campaign Finance Scrutiny Intensifies for Cannabis Donors

Federal campaign finance law prohibits corporate contributions to candidates and bans foreign nationals from participating in U.S. election funding. Parnas's conviction centered on allegations that he and an associate used a shell company to route $325,000 in foreign funds to Republican campaigns and a pro-Trump super PAC in 2018.

Cannabis companies face additional compliance layers. Because marijuana remains federally illegal, MSOs can't deduct lobbying expenses under IRC 280E, and their executives must work through state contribution limits that vary widely. Florida caps individual donations to state candidates at $1,000 per election but allows unlimited contributions to political committees, the vehicle Trulieve used for its Amendment 3 spending.

What Parnas's Account Reveals About MSO Strategy in 2019

If Parnas's timeline is accurate, Trulieve's outreach to Trump's orbit came at a moment when the industry was betting heavily on Republican-led federalism bills rather than Democratic legalization platforms. The STATES Act, introduced in 2019 by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), attracted bipartisan co-sponsors. It never advanced to a floor vote.

Trulieve's home state of Florida was a key 2020 battleground, and the company's dominance in the state's medical market—it held roughly 50% market share in 2019—gave it outsized political clout. Parnas's role, if any, would've been as a connector rather than a registered lobbyist; he held no cannabis industry position and was primarily known for his work with Giuliani on Ukraine-related matters.

What Happens Next

Parnas's claims are unlikely to trigger new legal exposure for Trulieve unless evidence surfaces of unreported contributions or coordination. The Federal Election Commission's six-year statute of limitations on civil violations would cover any alleged 2019 activity, but criminal cases require proof of knowing and willful violations.

We'll be watching three indicators: whether Trulieve addresses Parnas's account in its next earnings call, whether federal prosecutors or the FEC open inquiries, and whether Trump's 2026 campaign revives any formal cannabis policy plank. The next quarterly FEC filing deadline is October 15, 2026.