Agricultural giant Scotts Miracle-Gro is the largest contributor so far to efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey, donating $800,000 of the nearly $1.3 million raised as of Oct. 2, according to state records.
The donation reflects how mainstream companies are taking a keen interest in cannabis and, in this case, legalization.
Scotts entered the cannabis sector through its hydroponics subsidiary, Hawthorne Gardening, which has grown through $1 billion in acquisitions.
Conspicuously absent in New Jersey’s election finance report are large marijuana companies and the state’s existing medical cannabis operators.
Jeff Brindle, executive director of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Division, said in a news release that early reports show that the marijuana legalization initiative already is among the top 10 ballot questions in the state’s history in terms of funding.