cannabisnews.com: Wealthy Trio Back Marijuana Initiative Wealthy Trio Back Marijuana Initiative Posted by CN Staff on October 17, 2002 at 10:08:46 PT By Elvia Díaz Source: AZCentral.com In their quest to loosen drug laws, three wealthy men have shelled out most of the $1.1 million spent so far to promote a November ballot initiative that would require Arizona state police to hand out free marijuana to the ill.University of Phoenix founder John Sperling and investors George Soros and Peter Lewis have contributed the bulk of the money to finance Proposition 203. The three have funded 19 initiatives in other states with a high rate of success. Battleground Arizona, the group opposing the initiative, has raised $104,100 and spent $67,566, according to a campaign report filed last week. Spokesman Troy Corder said opponents aren't worried and are relying on people's common sense to defeat the proposal."We knew we were going to be outspent," said Corder, adding that their campaign can't afford television or radio ads. "We're not frustrated. We know we're on the right side."The measure would allow residents who are seriously ill to go to the Department of Public Safety to get two ounces of marijuana every month. They would need a doctor's note. The measure also decriminalizes possession of small amounts of the drug.Proposition 203 spokesman Sam Vagenas said national non-profit groups are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in Arizona to try to indirectly persuade people to vote against the measure."It's not a coincidence these groups decided to run anti-marijuana ads right now," Vagenas said. The 203 campaign, which is airing radio ads promoting the initiative, has amassed $1.3 million. As of Oct. 10, the campaign had $212,099 in cash.Source: AZCentral.com (AZ)Author: Elvia DíazPublished: October 17, 2002Copyright 2002 azcentral.comWebsite: http://www.azcentral.com/Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/help/comment-form.phpRelated Articles:Pot Plan a Smoke Screen, Foes Say http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14466.shtmlDrug Czar Urges 'No' Vote On Pot Proposition http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14424.shtmlDrug Czar Opposes Prop 203 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14403.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by karkulus on October 17, 2002 at 22:55:26 PT I would praise the Lord Jesus Christ if.. University of Phoenix founder John Sperling would debate that wind-bag Walters..Oh,Jesus, Please get him to do it!!!Amen [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by mayan on October 17, 2002 at 17:03:03 PT Taxpayer's Money At least these men are spending their own money rather than the taxpayer's money! I find it comical how this article makes the opponents of 203 look like the underdogs. Like Wolfgang Wylde points out, the prohibition forces have 40 billion dollars to spend each year! 40 billion!!! Our side has chump-change! We may not have the money but at least we have the truth on our side. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 17, 2002 at 15:08:49 PT leafhopper You're welcome. I don't know how to answer your question. I looked around and all I could think of is the Soros Foundation Network or maybe you could contact them thru The Drug Policy Alliance. Hope this helps!http://www.soros.org/http://www.drugpolicy.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by leafhopper on October 17, 2002 at 14:54:35 PT great people Does anyone know how Sperling, Soros, or Lewis can be contacted? I'd like to write to them and thank them for bravely supporting what they know is right, and I would encourage anyone else who doesn't believe the establishment's lies about Cannabis to write them and let them know how much those people who can't afford to conribute so much money to the cause appreciate what they're doing.And as long as I'm posting, I want to thank FoM and anyone else who works to run this web site. You are the guardians of liberty. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 17, 2002 at 14:12:43 PT LTE Sirs, Your article makes it sound like the only opposition to Prop 203 comes from Battleground Arizona and their $100,000 budget. What about the taxpayer dollars spent by drug czar John Walters to visit Arizona for the purposes of encouraging voters to oppose the initiative? What about the drug czar's ad campaign, which has run several TV & radio spots repeatedly, and also bought full-page ads in 300 newspapers week after week? Even if you oppose Prop. 203, you should be outraged that the federal government would spend large amounts of our money to campaign against state initiatives. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Nasarius on October 17, 2002 at 12:25:08 PT Wait, wait... Mr. Corder wants to deny medicine to the terminally ill and thinks that's the "right side" and "common sense"? If he objects to using cannabis as a medicine because of the euphoria, then he should be campaigning against opiate-based painkillers. Otherwise he's just another hypocrite in all this insanity. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by WolfgangWylde on October 17, 2002 at 11:59:08 PT Piffle... ...the Prohibition Forces spend $40 Billion a year propping up the Drug War, and they use my money to do it. I suppose any movement against the Drug War is supposed to be funded by nothing. What a load of horse manure. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by afterburner on October 17, 2002 at 11:22:59 PT: 3 Heroes vs. the Multi-headed Hydra of Prohibition Did you get to vote for these non-profit organizations? Did you authorize them to spend money to maintain prohibition and the caging of humans over a mild plant? Did you elect the drug czar? Did you authorize him to use your tax-money to campaign against state initiatives? Did you authorize jack-booted raids on state-sanctioned medical marijuana plantations? I didn't think so. Neither did I!Peace and sane laws. If the government won't do it, the people will. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on October 17, 2002 at 10:28:37 PT Drug war fact It's a fiasco. It can't be anything else. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment