cannabisnews.com: Capitalists for Cannabis Capitalists for Cannabis Posted by FoM on September 29, 1999 at 07:58:23 PT By Abigail Kahn and Adam Kemezis Source: Forbes Magazine At least three members of The Forbes 400 share an unlikely interest: marijuana. Investor George Soros, Progressive Corp.'s Peter Lewis and for-profit educator John Sperling all support initiatives aimed at legalizing pot for medicinal purposes, and other drug-law-reform issues. For Soros it's just one of his many libertarian causes. Lewis and Sperling donate to many of the same drug-law-reform groups, including Santa Monica, Calif.-based Americans For Medical Rights. Last year their money backed successful medical marijuana initiatives in Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Alaska, as well as in Sperling's home state of Arizona. Clevelander Lewis stresses he's "made no specific efforts to legalize marijuana," but he would like to soften the "ridiculously incarcerating" drug laws now in effect. Sperling, whose Apollo Group runs the for-profit University of Phoenix, criticizes federal drug policy as much as he does federal regulations on education. So far he's rolled more than $3 million into efforts that would "turn the whole [drug] problem over to the medical and public health professions." But for all their huff and puff, the movement faces stiff opposition from state legislatures and the feds. Medical marijuana initiatives proved extremely popular in the West; it remains to be seen whether Eastern voters will be equally as receptive. October 11, 1999 ™© 1999 Forbes.com http://www.levellers.org/cannabis.htmlBusybodies Trying To Stifle Debate - 9/27/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3044.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Blair Anderson on September 02, 2000 at 19:59:13 PT: political and bureaucratic stasis... I agree with Thomas (sept 29,1999), that there is a corruption of democracy when the political process fails to resolve the debate. As a long time advocate of reform, I have watched the New Zealand Government negate the reform initiative with weasel words, despite a mandate to action reform.The process is slow, but progress is " a day at a time".I can smell a writ mandamus if there is hedging of political bets come election time 2002 if this core community issue is not resolved.Cheers/ Blair Anderson Worlds FIRST pot party toppled the incumbent government.. read about it here! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Thomas on September 29, 1999 at 13:35:59 PT Eastern Voters What remains to be seen? Didn't D.C. pass their medical cannabis referendum with the highest percentage yet? Given a chance, the Eastern voters may even be more receptive than the Westerners. It's not the populace that is undecided, it's the entrenched bureaucrats masquarading as leaders of a democratic nation that we are having problems with! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: