Colorado’s ballot initiative to legalize marijuana possession is billed by one leading local advocate as “a grassroots effort here on the ground,” but an examination of contributions to the campaign tell a far different story.
Editor's Note: This story is part of a three part series on Amendment 64 covering polling, funding and the legalization question.
Contribution records from the Secretary of State’s office show that the four registered committees supporting legalization collected more than $1.4 million through Sept. 12, with more than $1.2 million coming from states other than Colorado.
"They have an incredible amount of money," said Floyd Ciruli, analyst at Ciruli Associates Polling and Consulting. "It primarily came from out of state."
Ciruil said Colorado is among other Western states “that have a little more libertarian attitude,” making them “fertile ground for laws that would legalize various behaviors like drugs.”
The top campaign contributor to Colorado’s Amendment 64 is Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C.–based lobbying group that has donated more than $1.1 million. According to the group’s website, it has more than 124,000 members and supporters.
Other top donors in favor of the proposition include national lobbying group Drug Policy Action Alliance ($90,000), California-based soap company Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps ($50,000) and Lawrence Hess of San Diego ($30,000).
Mason Tvert, co-director of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and a marijuana advocate in the state of long standing, said most of the pro-initiative work is being done by Coloradans.
“This is a grassroots effort here on the ground. We have individuals canvassing their neighborhoods all across the state. We’re confident we’ll continue to see support grow.”
Morgan Fox, a spokesperson of the Marijuana Policy Project, said in an email that the big spending should help.
“The financial backing that the campaign has gathered so far will ensure that it is able to get its message out to voters far more effectively than the opposition, which will certainly be a benefit,” Fox wrote.
However, polling indicates that support for the measure may be wavering.
A Rasmussen Pollsters survey conducted in June indicated 61 percent of voters would vote in favor of marijuana legalization. A more recent poll conducted by Public Policy Polling in late August and early September showed 47 percent in favor, 38 percent opposed and 15 percent uncertain.
"This latest survey is more sobering," Ciruli said. "It suggests to me that while they have the advantage of money, and I do think they have an argument, there’s an uphill battle. There’s a tendency for the positive vote to have attrition due to attacks, second thoughts, a variety of things.”
Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement last week that he was opposing Amendment 64.
“Colorado is known for many great things – marijuana should not be one of them,” Hickenlooper said. “Amendment 64 has the potential to increase the number of children using drugs and would detract from efforts to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation. It sends the wrong message to kids that drugs are OK.”
Only one group, Smart Colorado: Vote No on 64, is registered to campaign against the measure. Smart Colorado had raised $194,000 through Sept. 12, and most of its money also came from out of state.
Florida-based Save our Society from Drugs contributed $151,497 of the total. The group also funded opposition to a 2006 Colorado legalization attempt. The organization did not respond to phone calls and emails for comment.
Tvert’s organization is the official campaign driving the initiative.
If approved by Colorado voters, Amendment 64 will make it legal for those 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. It also would create a regulatory system for marijuana similar to that of alcohol. And it would allow cultivation and sale of industrial hemp. Federal laws, however, still would outlaw marijuana possession and use.
Both Washington and Oregon have similar amendments on their Nov 2012 ballots. Another ballot measure failed in California in 2010, with 53.5 percent of Californians voting “No” on the legalization and taxation of marijuana.
Another pro-legalization advocacy group, Citizens for Responsible Legalization, collected $779,000 last fall, almost all of it from Peter Lewis, an Ohio man who founded Progressive Insurance. The group spent the money on television ads and research in the Colorado Springs area before disbanding at the start of this year. Tvert said the group isn’t affiliated with the current initiative.
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The I-News Network is a nonprofit newsroom collaborating with Colorado news organizations to cover important issues. You can learn more about the funding behind Amendment 64 and other Colorado ballot measures at I-News' Voter's Edge Colorado.
