Groups pushing for a statewide vote to legalize marijuana have raised more than $1.2 million toward their effort, while opposition groups have collectively raised less than $100,000.
The richest organization by far is the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, raising more than $1.08 million in cash and in-kind contributions since last May, according to campaign finance records.
The group wants businesses to sell marijuana in the same way alcohol is sold.
A Phoenix resident named Stan, who asked that only his first name be used, donated $50 to the legalization effort.
“[Arizona] is a Republican state, a conservative state,” Stan said when discussing the odds of the initiative passing.
“However, [Arizona] has a lot of people with common sense.”
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol needs to collect approximately 150,000 valid signatures for their proposal to be placed on a statewide ballot. A spokesman said they have already surpassed that mark, but plan to collect 225,000 in order to try to ensure they have enough qualifying signatures.
The signatures are due in early July.
Their only direct challenger, Just Vote No Arizona, raised just over $800 in in-kind contributions.
“We’re just starting out,” said Kim Owens, spokesperson for Just Vote No Arizona.
“We don’t have any reason to believe that we won’t be equally as well-funded.”
Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, which opposes marijuana legalization, raised $90,000, records show.
