Campaign filings for opposing groups on the question of legalizing recreational and medical marijuana show similar approaches.
One just has a lot more cash.
Both vote yes and vote no campaigns on Constitutional Amendment A rely heavily on organizational dollars for support.
That amendment would legalize recreational pot use for adults 21 and over.
South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws received nearly 88 percent of its campaign cash from a Washington D.C. group called New Approach.
They infused $435,000 to the group.
One hundred and fifteen people—mostly South Dakotans—also donated to the campaign.
Drey Samuelson is the political director to the group backing Amendment A. He says successful ballot question campaigns require resources .
“We’re very grateful that New Approach PAC has supported our effort just as they have to several other marijuana campaigns over the last several years,” Samuelson says. “I think it’s really important to point out that our initiatives were drafted and sponsored by South Dakotans. Our petitions were signed and collected by South Dakotans. South Dakotans will decide whether to make our initiatives law less than two weeks from today.”
The group has spent around $384,000 on advertising.
The group opposing Amendment A has spent $55,000.
“They don’t have a grass roots effort,” says David Owen, the president of the No Way On A committee. “They’ve got a lot of people interested. I’ve got 25 groups. We’ve got all the cops. I think we’re going to have a lineup of mayors here by the end of the week.”
Eight individuals contributed to the opposition campaign.
Valley Queen Cheese, Daktronics, Avera and South Dakota Farm Bureau also contributed to the opposition. The $44,000 raised from those groups includes $10,000 from Governor Dennis Daugaard’s campaign committee.
Pro, Con Committees On Pot Question Lean On Entity Funding
