Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Columbus, Ohio - The national group pushing a medical marijuana ballot measure in Ohio never came close to raising enough money to run a statewide campaign.
Marijuana Policy Project's Ohio political action committee, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, raised $473,822 during the first half of the year, campaign finance reports filed with the state Friday show. The PAC spent $767,000 during that time, mostly to consultants and firms collecting the 305,591 signatures of Ohio voters required to get on the ballot.
The report filed Friday showed debt totaling $143,201 to a signature collecting company and an outstanding $260,000 loan to MPP. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana spokesman Aaron Marshall said both have been settled and the organization is in the black going forward.
The group suspended its signature drive in May, two days after the Ohio legislature passed a bill establishing a regulated medical marijuana program.
At the time, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana campaign manager Brandon Lynaugh called the bill "moderately good" and said its passage made fundraising difficult.
Ohioans for Medical Marijuana has kept a skeleton crew in Ohio to continue lobbying the state legislature to improve the new law and work with agencies writing the rules and regulations for the program.
"We will represent patients and get a solid program that works, so we're not going anywhere," Marshall said.
Where the money came from
In a fundraising pitch earlier this year, MPP Executive Director Rob Kampia asked Ohioans to contribute toward a $900,000 fundraising goal. Most organizations spend about twice as much to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot and spend millions educating voters about the measure.
MPP contributed $410,105 and more than $54,000 in-kind to the effort and 25 individuals contributed a total of $3,617.
The Government Integrity fund, an Ohio-based super PAC that doesn't disclose its donors, contributed $39,500. The super PAC supported state Treasurer Josh Mandel's 2012 Senate run.
Where the money went
California-based ARNO Petition Consulting received $443,327 and was still owed $143,201 as of June 30.
Work by political consultants and lobbyists from five firms cost of $130,888. The campaign paid eight Ohio staffers a total of $82,500.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Amendment Backers Had Little Cash, Campaign Finance Report Shows
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Cleveland Ohio Local News
Photo Credit: Seth Perlman
Website: Cleveland Ohio Local News
Marijuana Policy Project's Ohio political action committee, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, raised $473,822 during the first half of the year, campaign finance reports filed with the state Friday show. The PAC spent $767,000 during that time, mostly to consultants and firms collecting the 305,591 signatures of Ohio voters required to get on the ballot.
The report filed Friday showed debt totaling $143,201 to a signature collecting company and an outstanding $260,000 loan to MPP. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana spokesman Aaron Marshall said both have been settled and the organization is in the black going forward.
The group suspended its signature drive in May, two days after the Ohio legislature passed a bill establishing a regulated medical marijuana program.
At the time, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana campaign manager Brandon Lynaugh called the bill "moderately good" and said its passage made fundraising difficult.
Ohioans for Medical Marijuana has kept a skeleton crew in Ohio to continue lobbying the state legislature to improve the new law and work with agencies writing the rules and regulations for the program.
"We will represent patients and get a solid program that works, so we're not going anywhere," Marshall said.
Where the money came from
In a fundraising pitch earlier this year, MPP Executive Director Rob Kampia asked Ohioans to contribute toward a $900,000 fundraising goal. Most organizations spend about twice as much to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot and spend millions educating voters about the measure.
MPP contributed $410,105 and more than $54,000 in-kind to the effort and 25 individuals contributed a total of $3,617.
The Government Integrity fund, an Ohio-based super PAC that doesn't disclose its donors, contributed $39,500. The super PAC supported state Treasurer Josh Mandel's 2012 Senate run.
Where the money went
California-based ARNO Petition Consulting received $443,327 and was still owed $143,201 as of June 30.
Work by political consultants and lobbyists from five firms cost of $130,888. The campaign paid eight Ohio staffers a total of $82,500.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Amendment Backers Had Little Cash, Campaign Finance Report Shows
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Cleveland Ohio Local News
Photo Credit: Seth Perlman
Website: Cleveland Ohio Local News
