BOSTON — A measure that would decriminalize minor marijuana-possession cases is on the ballot in Massachusetts largely because of one man: billionaire financier and liberal activist George Soros.
Of the $429,000 collected last year by the group advancing the measure, $400,000 came from Soros, who has championed similar efforts in several states and spent $24 million to fight President Bush’s 2004 re-election. The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy needed about $315,000 of that just to collect the more than 100,000 signatures that secured a spot on the ballot, according to campaign finance reports.
If the measure is approved in November, Massachusetts will become the 13th state to lift or ease criminal penalties on marijuana possession. The proposal would make having an ounce or less of the drug a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine.
A spokesman for Soros referred questions to Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance.
Soros’ efforts to ease penalties for drug crimes have come through the alliance, where he is a member of the board of directors.
Nadelmann said Soros feels the war on drugs is draining money and resources that could be better spent.
“He thinks the (ballot question) is a responsible initiative to reduce the over-reliance on criminal justice sanctions in dealing with marijuana,” Nadelmann said. “Marijuana should not be a priority of the criminal justice system.”
Soros is credited with putting financial muscle behind many of the state initiatives easing marijuana laws — beginning with a 1996 California ballot question to allow marijuana use for medical purposes. From 1996 to 2000, Soros backed medical marijuana questions there and in Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Maine.
