APNewsBreak: Effort to legalize marijuana in Washington state in trouble after money walks
By Gene Johnson, APMonday, June 7, 2010
Without cash, Wash. legal pot initiative in danger
SEATTLE — An effort to legalize marijuana for adults in Washington is in danger of not making the ballot this year after support from the state’s progressive establishment failed to materialize.
Initiative 1068 would remove all state penalties for marijuana possession, use, sale and transfer. It’s one of the most sweeping of marijuana reform efforts playing out around the country this year.
Campaign chairman Douglas Hiatt told The Associated Press on Monday that more than 100,000 people have signed the initiative. The group needs 241,000 by July 2.
The campaign can’t afford to hire paid signature gatherers, and it has recently been counting on financial support from the Service Employees International Union — a big player in liberal politics. But Monday, the labor union said no such support would be forthcoming.
