cannabisnews.com: Outsiders Help Fund Pot Issues 





Outsiders Help Fund Pot Issues 
Posted by CN Staff on October 21, 2004 at 12:48:45 PT
By Dave Moore of the Tribune’s Staff 
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune 
A local group pushing for the passage of two ballot issues that would reduce penalties for marijuana possession in Columbia has received $50,000 in donations from a national organization dedicated to changing marijuana laws.There is no organized opposition to the issues that appear on the Nov. 2 ballot.
A Missouri Ethics Commission disclosure form shows that the Washington, D.C.- based Marijuana Policy Project on July 19 donated $5,000 to the Columbia Alliance for Patients and Education and another $38,000 on Oct. 5. The group has given other donations bringing the total to $50,000 for this year’s campaign. Local donations total $1,755."We try to support initiatives where there’s a solid strategy," said Bruce Mirken, director of communications at the Marijuana Policy Project, funded partly by George Soros. He said the group saw the potential of CAPE’s success in passing the issues, and the MPP thought it was worth funding the group’s efforts."There are a number of local and statewide initiatives we’re supporting" across the nation, Mirken said.The project is also funding campaigns for local initiatives in Ann Arbor, Mich., Oakland, Calif., and in Massachusetts, Mirken said. Statewide initiatives fueled by MPP funds include Alaska and Oregon. Generally, issues the group champions support reducing or eliminating penalties for marijuana, he said."On state initiatives, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars" donated toward marijuana efforts "in each of the states," Mirken said. "Our approach very much is that, when there are local issues that have a chance, we try to support them whenever we can." The project has been involved since 2002 in funding campaigns for changing marijuana laws in elections, he said, but the general election offers a good opportunity."General elections get more turnout," Mirken said, adding that many people registering to vote are young adults. "What’s consistent is that older voters are least open to reform of marijuana law."Dan Viets, the local coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, is leading the Columbia effort to lessen penalties for marijuana arrests. He said residents could expect to hear more about the marijuana initiatives soon. "We figured it’s not much point in spending our money early on because people forget about it," Viets said. Advertising rates are spiking as Nov. 2 draws nearer, he said, so the number of advertisements the group will be able to buy is shrinking.The group has purchased 500 yard signs that they plan to distribute, Viets said.Columbia Police Chief Randy Boehm opposes the initiatives but said he can’t actively campaign because of his position as chief."It seems to me that the campaign has been pretty low profile for the proponents," Boehm said. "Maybe that will change."A similar marijuana proposal for Columbia in 2003 failed, 58 percent to 42 percent. In that election, MPP donated $10,000 to proponents.Note: D.C.-based organization gives $50,000 to effort.Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)Author: Dave Moore of the Tribune’s Staff Published: Thursday, October 21, 2004Copyright: 2004 Columbia Daily TribuneContact: editor tribmail.comWebsite: http://www.columbiatribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites: NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Initiatives To Reform Marijuana Laws Filedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19108.shtmlPetitioners Turn in Extra Signatures http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19099.shtmlPot Petitions Aim for Spot on City Ballot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19001.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by siege on October 21, 2004 at 15:23:41 PT
article
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=30453
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Comment #2 posted by siege on October 21, 2004 at 15:21:54 PT
courtesy angel raich
2201 Plaintiff Angel Raich uses medicinal marijuana in a hospital in August 2003.http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/images/2004/10/20/1ns.marijuana.picB.jpg
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Comment #1 posted by dongenero on October 21, 2004 at 13:02:35 PT
Fed talking points
Funny how this article starts off exactly like the artcles in Alaska did!"A local group pushing for the passage of two ballot issues that would reduce penalties for marijuana possession in Columbia has received $50,000 in donations from a national organization dedicated to changing marijuana laws.There is no organized opposition to the issues that appear on the Nov. 2 ballot."They always preface it as a ballot issue funded by outside money. As if everything the Feds do in the individual states is not outside money. The difference is the Feds fly all over the country using OUR tax dollars to fight voter referendums.Then they say...there is no organized oppostion...that's when Walters or Burns jets into town on a private luxury jet...paid for by?.....you got it.Now, can I direct some of my tax dollars to Soros to support the voter rather than to the Feds to fight the voter?
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