Marijuana Initiative Dominates Campaign Fundraising in 2015

Of the Arizona campaigns raising funds in 2015, the marijuana industry accounts for $1.2 million of the total $9.7 million put towards state-level political campaigns. The ballot measure committee released information stating that the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol in Arizona (CRMLA) has raised almost $1.1 million. Arizonans for Responsible Legalization raised $183,000 and transferred a portion to the CRMLA.

Medical marijuana dispensaries and local supporters are also listed as major contributors to the campaign efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona, according to AZCIR. Second to the CRMLA’s funding is the Friends of Doug Ducey campaign which brought in nearly $770,000.

Signatures in support of the ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona are still being collected. The state required a minimum of 150,642 signatures from registered voters to include the initiative on the November 2016 ballot and has reportedly collected roughly 180,000, according to committee spokesman Barrett Marson.

Marson said, “The first phase is all about ensuring ballot access. It is an expensive venture to qualify for the ballot.”

There is no clear dollar amount expected to be spent on the ballot measure.

In opposition of legalizing recreational marijuana, Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy has raised $90,000 according to statistical reports. The contributions to this campaign have come mainly from five main sources.

During the 2010 efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Arizona, the main campaign supporting the initiative reportedly spent upwards of $800,000 on campaign efforts and the opposition spending about $30,000. These efforts led to a narrow passing of the initiative to legalize medical marijuana. After the votes were counted, medical marijuana passed by only 4,340 votes.