New financial backing appears to be brewing a fight between cannabis legalization campaigns in California.
Steve Kubby, a cannabis activist who was active in the 1996 campaign to legalize the plant in California, has convinced the board of directors at Kush Research to donate $1 million in stock to the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act. Kubby serves as the CEO of Kush, a Nevada-based firm.
Kubby has argued that the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act is a preferable alternative to the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which has been backed by billionaire Sean Parker.
The Adult Use of Marijuana Act has raised $2.25 million so far, and is beating the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act in terms of public endorsements as well.
Americans for Policy Reform, the group backing the proposal Kubby supports has yet to file a campaign finance report this year. They are competing with two well-known national groups, the Drug Policy Alliance and the Marijuana Policy Project, both of which have thrown their hats in the ring with Parker.
It remains to be seen whether the Kush donation will have a significant effect on the outcome of the two campaigns, but if it engenders significant grassroots resistance to the proposal that currently has the best chance of becoming law, recreational cannabis legalization in California could be jeopardized.