Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jun 2014
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2014 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Jeff Mapes

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION: PETER LEWIS' FAMILY LEADS IN $250,000 DONATION
TO OREGON INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN

A political action committee formed by family members of the late
billionaire insurance executive Peter Lewis has given $250,000 to a
marijuana legalization initiative that backers are seeking to qualify
for the November ballot in Oregon.

Lewis, who died last year, had turned Progressive into one of the
country's largest auto insurers and was a major donor to marijuana
legalization and medical marijuana campaigns around the country.

Lewis had given $96,000 to the Oregon initiative, sponsored by New
Approach Oregon, before his death in November and there was
speculation that his demise would seriously undercut the legalization
effort in Oregon. However, the latest contribution shows that his
family is willing to provide additional support.

"It's clear that his family is doing this to honor his legacy," said
Graham Boyd, a longtime adviser to Peter Lewis who is also heading the
new committee, which is called New Approach PAC.

Contributors to the new committee include Lewis' two sons, Jonathan
and Adam, his brother Dan Lewis and his ex-wife, Toby Lewis, Boyd
said. Other contributors to the new committee include New York
fragrance company heir Henry van Ameringen, family planning
philanthropist Phil Harvey and Cari Tuna, the wife of one of
Facebook's co-founders. Also contributing is David Bronner, the CEO of
a California soap company that is a major donor to the Oregon
initiative that would require labeling of foods containing genetically
modified ingredients.

Liz Kaufman, who is managing the Oregon initiative campaign, said her
group has also received another $150,000 from New York-based Drug
Policy Action, which had earlier given $200,000.

Drug Policy Action, which has received major support from billionaire
George Soros, was a major backer of Washington's successful
legalization initiative in 2012. Lewis contributed just over $2
million to that campaign.

Boyd declined to say how much New Approach PAC has raised, saying it
would be disclosed in a June 20 federal filing. He said the group will
be supporting a variety of efforts relating to marijuana but said he
wouldn't predict if there will be further contributions to the Oregon
measure.

New Approach Oregon, which has raised more than $900,000 since
starting last year, is in the midst of gathering the 87,213 signatures
needed by July 3 to qualify for the November ballot. Another group is
also collecting signatures for two other proposals to legalize marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Matt