Paul StanfordDeep-pocketed marijuana activists are pouring millions of dollars into legalization measures on the ballot in Washington and Colorado, but they are keeping their distance from a similar pot campaign in Oregon.
Marijuana legalization advocates connected with billionaire donors George Soros and Peter Lewis say the Oregon measure doesn't appear as politically attractive as it is in two other states -- particularly in Washington where two recent polls show a majority favoring legalization.
has not polled nearly as well, which is a "cause for concern and a disincentive" to donate money, said Ethan Nadelmann, a prominent national opponent of the nation's drug laws.
Nadelmann heads Drug Policy Action, a New York-based nonprofit that donated $715,000 in Washington and another $90,000 in Colorado.
Law enforcement officials opposing marijuana legalization in Oregon eyed the big dollars from national pot advocates and expected to be heavily outspent this year. However, it is now looking more likely that the fight over Measure 80 will be a low-dollar affair, fought out largely in such forums as the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet.
Paul Stanford, Measure 80's sponsor, said he's reached out to Nadelmann and to people close to Lewis.
"We're trying to bring that money, but we haven't been successful so far," said Stanford, who owns a chain of medical marijuana clinics around the country. "They say our poll numbers aren't that great."
Stanford said he largely tapped out his own resources by spending more than $400,000 to make the ballot. His disclosure report lists just $13,000 in contributions, although it may not reflect all of his donations since he has up to 30 days to report them.
Stanford's money problems are such that two other marijuana activists formed a separate group, Oregonians for Law Reform, with the goal of raising enough money to run a separate campaign in favor of Measure 80.
Stanford just hasn't "been able to build the foundation that big donors want to see in place before they contribute directly," said Sam Chapman, a recent University of Oregon graduate who started the group along with Kaliko Castille.
Chapman, who said he and Castille founded Students for Sensible Drug Policy at UO, said Stanford has a checkered history that has put off some donors. He also said the Measure 80 campaign focused on "preaching to the choir" instead of reaching out to mainstream voters.
An
early this year found that he had filed for bankruptcy at least twice and pleaded guilty in 2011 to income tax evasion. Last month, The Oregonian reported that
paying petitioners who helped get his measure on the ballot.
Stanford said this week that he's paid all of the petitioners and that he doesn't think his past problems discouraged donors from giving to Measure 80.
Whatever the case, there is indeed big money behind legalizing marijuana.
Soros, who made his fortune in currency trading, and Lewis, who founded Progressive Insurance, have together poured millions of dollars into revamping drug laws. Soros has worked closely with Nadelmann at times, although Nadelmann said he's not required to reveal the names of donors to Drug Policy Action.
Nadelmann declined to talk about Stanford or the specifics of the Oregon measure. But he spoke enthusiastically of the professionalism of the Washington marijuana measure, how carefully it was drafted and how it has attracted extensive in-state donations and endorsements.
"Seattle is the only place in America where every member of the city council, the mayor, the city attorney, the former U.S. attorney and the former head of the FBI (in Seattle) all support the initiative," he said. "That's remarkable. I mean, not even San Francisco can say that."
has so far raised $3 million. Besides the $715,000 from Nadelmann's group, the campaign has also received $821,000 from Lewis and $450,000 from travel writer Rick Steves and his company.
The Washington campaign spent more than $1 million on an early TV advertising buy this summer, which appeared to pay off, according to
. Elway Research found the measure ahead, 50-38, while SurveyUSA said it was leading, 57 percent to 34 percent.
In Colorado, committees supporting marijuana legalization reported raising $1.1 million as of Sept. 12. Most of the money came from Lewis, who has donated $876,000 to Amendment 64. A Sept. 9-12 SurveyUSA poll f
.
At the same time, SurveyUSA conducted a poll in Oregon for KATU(2) that
here. Another 41 percent were opposed and 22 percent were unsure how they'd vote.
–