Pubdate: Sat, 22 Sep 2012
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2012 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Jeff Mapes

Big pro-marijuana donors bypassing Oregon legalization measure for
more promising initiatives in Washington and Colorado

Deep-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.

Oregon's Measure 80 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 extensive profile of Stanford by Associated Press 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 Stanford was having trouble 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."

Washington's Initiative 502 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
two early September polls. 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 found 51 percent in support and 40 percent opposed.

At the same time, SurveyUSA conducted a poll in Oregon for KATU(2)
that found just 37 percent supported marijuana legalization here.
Another 41 percent were opposed and 22 percent were unsure how they'd
vote.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt