<\/p>\n
DENVER \u2013 Marijuana businesses pledged to lawmakers this year that they would be there to support a tax initiative in order to fund enough inspectors and regulators to keep the pot industry clean.<\/p>\n
But until Wednesday night, the industry had contributed just $100 to the Proposition AA campaign. That compares to the $1.8 million raised in 2012 to legalize marijuana in Colorado.<\/p>\n
The fundraising will change dramatically thanks to a $1,000-a-head event headlined by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday evening. At least 40 people \u2013 including many marijuana trade group lobbyists \u2013 appeared to be in attendance.<\/p>\n
Still, with two weeks until ballots go out in the mail and just over a month to Election Day, the campaign both for and against the pot tax has been a low-dollar affair compared to last year\u2019s campaign to legalize pot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe big difference is national money versus local money,\u201d said Rick Ridder, head of the pro-Prop AA campaign.<\/p>\n
The Marijuana Policy Project and other out-of-state groups supplied more than $1 million to the legalization campaign. They\u2019re sitting out of the Prop AA race.<\/p>\n
The measure seeks a 10 percent retail sales tax \u2013 which the Legislature can raise to 15 percent \u2013 along with a 15 percent wholesale excise tax on recreational marijuana. Most or all of the excise tax would go to school construction, while the sales tax would be used to fund the state\u2019s marijuana enforcement division.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re feeling generally very positive. We get good feedback on the streets,\u201d Ridder said.<\/p>\n
But at Wednesday\u2019s fundraiser, Hickenlooper exhorted the crowd to do more and raise more money.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am always in any election nervous as a cat,\u201d Hickenlooper said.<\/p>\n
Neither side has paid for an opinion poll.<\/p>\n
Opponents, also, have next to no money. The anti-Prop AA campaign had raised just $1,846 as of Monday.<\/p>\n
But they are making up for it through \u201cstreet theater\u201d \u2013 namely, campaign events including passing out free joints as police officers watch.<\/p>\n
Rob Corry, a leader of the anti-tax campaign, and several dozen pot activists gathered Wednesday outside Hickenlooper\u2019s fundraiser at the Denver Beer Company. After a tense but respectful discussion with police officers about what the state\u2019s marijuana laws do and don\u2019t allow, Corry turned to the crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right! Should we start handing out some free marijuana? That\u2019s what we\u2019re here for,\u201d Corry said.<\/p>\n
High taxes will force pot sales back into the black market, Corry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be a horrible setback for what the voters wanted, which is a functioning market in marijuana. This would make it dysfunctional,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But proponents say that responsible pot businesses need the tax to make sure the industry is well regulated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s safe to say they\u2019re an extreme minority,\u201d said Brian Vicente, a leader of the pro-Prop AA campaign. \u201cThey\u2019re sort of the tea party of this movement. They have an extreme view that in some ways risks bringing down the entire system.\u201d<\/p>\n