Outside Interests Finance Pro-Marijuana Effort

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A group working to decriminalize marijuana in Alaska has been bankrolled by an Outside organization to the tune of half a million dollars, making it one of the best-funded ballot issue groups in state history, according to reports filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
Alaskans For Marijuana Regulation and Control has already spent most of the $551,227 buying airtime for radio and television ads, mailing brochures, paying staffers and conducting get-out-the-vote telephone pushes, according to the group's 30-day pre-election campaign disclosure report filed Monday.

All but $510 of the money came from the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, which is also funding pro-pot initiatives in other states this year.

With 27 days to go until the Nov. 2 election, Alaskans For Marijuana Regulation and Control has already outspent nearly all the ballot issue groups in state and local elections dating back to 1997, APOC records show. Only three groups since 1997 have spent more: the Alaska Family Coalition spent about $617,000 in 1998 to push for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage; the Yes Committee spent $650,000 in 2002 on its campaign for a new convention center in Anchorage; and the Vote Yes! Committee spent almost $700,000 in 1999 to push for using part of the Permanent Fund to balance the state budget. Only the same-sex marriage measure won voter approval.

The fund raising is further evidence the legalization campaign this year is more sophisticated than a similar, unsuccessful effort in 2000.

Alaskans For Marijuana Regulation and Control has about 55 times the amount of money as the only organized opposition to Ballot Measure 2: Alaskans Against the Legalization of Marijuana/Hemp.




Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Author: Tataboline Brant, Anchorage Daily News
Published: October 7, 2004
Copyright: 2004 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact: letters@adn.com
Website: Anchorage Daily News
 
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