Pubdate: Fri, 29 Nov 2013
Source: Marietta Times, The (OH)
Copyright: 2013 The Marietta Times
Contact:  http://www.mariettatimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2988

EFFORTS TO RELAX US MARIJUANA LAWS LOSE BENEFACTOR

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- With the death of Cleveland billionaire and
philanthropist Peter B. Lewis, the movement for relaxed U.S. marijuana
laws lost its most generous benefactor. That's left supporters
wondering what comes next.

Allen St. Pierre is the executive director of the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML. He says
organizations that relied on Lewis' largesse will need to build new
fundraising structures.

Lewis, chairman of Progressive Insurance, died Saturday. He had
donated an estimated $40 million to $60 million to marijuana law
reform since the 1980s.

Largely through Lewis' efforts, and those of several other
billionaires, 20 states have passed medical marijuana laws, 17 have
decriminalized the drug and two have passed legalization language.

The founder of California-based Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana
says other big donors remain.
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MAP posted-by: Matt