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Prop 19 battle heats up with $1 million from George Soros

Leaves of a mature marijuana plant are seen in a display at The International Cannabis and Hemp Expo April 18, 2010 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. One researcher estimates that 8 percent of the state's household energy is consumed by growers of marijuana plants.
Leaves of a mature marijuana plant are seen in a display at The International Cannabis and Hemp Expo April 18, 2010 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. One researcher estimates that 8 percent of the state's household energy is consumed by growers of marijuana plants.
(
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
)

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Prop 19 battle heats up with $1 million from George Soros
Prop 19 battle heats up with $1 million from George Soros

The battle to legalize marijuana in California is heating up in the final days of the campaign.

Armed with a million-dollar donation from billionaire philanthropist George Soros this week, supporters of Proposition 19 have launched a new TV ad that targets mostly younger viewers of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.”

“They’re hoping we don’t vote this year. That’s why they don’t talk about Prop 19 – how it’ll force the government to stop wasting money on outdated pot laws."

While some in law enforcement support legalizing marijuana, most oppose it. So do the Democratic and Republican parties, and the state’s most popular elected official – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. She’s been campaigning against it at events this week.

Prop 19 would let people 21 and older possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and would allow cities and counties to legalize retail pot sales and impose taxes. The latest opinion poll indicates that 51 percent of likely voters oppose Proposition 19, and 39 percent support it.

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