Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Author: John Ingold OUTSIDE CASH PERMEATES POT ISSUE Friends, Foes of Initiative Lean on Out-Of-State Gifts Supporters of a ballot initiative to legalize limited possession of marijuana in Colorado have collected and spent millions of dollars, much of it from out-of-state sources, according to the most recent campaign-finance filings. Meanwhile, a group formed to oppose the initiative has received the majority of its contributions from outside Colorado. Five groups registered with the Colorado secretary of state's office to support Amendment 64 have collected just shy of $2 million in combined monetary and in-kind contributions. That includes about $1.8 million in monetary contributions. All but about $16,500 of the monetary contributions have come from groups or individuals listing out-of-state addresses, according to a Denver Post analysis of the filings. The five campaign committees have spent close to $1.2 million on everything from signature-gathering to polling to office supplies. Mason Tvert, a leader of the pro-Amendment 64 campaign, said the contributions indicate the national interest the measure has generated. "This is the best opportunity we've ever had to end marijuana prohibition at the state level and begin regulating it like alcohol," said Tvert, whose group calls itself the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The excitement for the campaign doesn't extend to the offices of Smart Colorado, a group registered to oppose Amendment 64. Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck announced last week that he would be organizing the "leadership group" for the committee, which he said would have help from behind-the-scenes politicos Maria Garcia Berry and Roger Sherman. "Marijuana is a dangerous drug. It's an addictive drug," Buck said. Smart Colorado has reported $15,000 in contributions - $10,000 of that coming from the Florida-based Save Our Society from Drugs. Smart Colorado's biggest reported expenditure so far has been to a polling firm. It has reported only a $104 payment to Berry and Sherman's consulting firm and no in-kind contributions, causing Tvert to question its filings. Sherman told The Colorado Independent that the firm is donating its time. Amendment 64 would legalize possession for any purpose of 1 ounce of marijuana for people 21 and older. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom