MEDICAL-MARIJUNA INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES THOUSANDS TO STATE CANDIDATES

In the first general election since the boom of the state's
medical-marijuana industry, cannabis supporters are making their
voices heard the old-fashioned way: with money.

Colorado medical-marijuana business owners and advocates have made
thousands of dollars in contributions to state candidates this year.

Dispensary owners have teamed up to form a political-action committee.
And activists last month went so far as to host a fundraiser for
attorney-general candidate Stan Garnett.

"We need to back candidates who back us," said Rob Corry, a
medical-marijuana attorney who organized the fundraiser and personally
contributed $1,050 to Garnett. "That is a fundamental political maxim
in America."

Gauging the exact amount of medical-marijuana money in this election
is difficult
because dispensary owners don't always identify as such when making
contributions.

A review of state campaign-finance filings shows medical-marijuana
advocates and business owners have contributed about $10,000 this
cycle, mostly to Democrats, though not exclusively.

One of the most active donors has been Josh Stanley, owner of the
Budding Health dispensary in Denver. Stanley has personally given
about $2,000 to candidates.

Stanley is also a co-founder of the Citizens for Natural Medicine
political-action committee, which has raised nearly $9,000 this cycle
and contributed $1,200 to three candidates. Those recipients include
Democratic state Sens. Chris Romer and Pat Steadman of Denver, who
have supported medical-marijuana regulations that legitimized the industry.

"Just like any other industry, you want to have a say," Stanley said.
"You want to be able to be in front and have your voice heard."

The fundraiser for Garnett, held last month, raised more than $5,000
for the candidate, said Garnett's campaign manager, Alec Garnett.

On the campaign trail, Stan Garnett, a Democrat, has said he would
work with federal officials to prevent or minimize federal drug
prosecutions of people involved in Colorado's medical-marijuana
industry. Garnett's opponent, Republican incumbent Attorney General
John Suthers, has taken a stricter stance toward medical marijuana.

Corry, the attorney, said he expects his fundraiser will be the first
of many for the industry.

"I don't think that is the end of it," he said.