Another player in an industry that would be negatively impacted by the legalization of cannabis is pouring money against a state ballot initiative as Services Group of America donated $80,000 to the prohibitionist campaign in Arizona, the International Business Times reports.
Services Group of America counts Food Services of America among its subsidiaries – the company is a meal provider for correctional facilities.
The donation expands the war chest of Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, bringing their total fundraising efforts to $2.7 million — $900,000 of which was generated in the last three weeks. The pro-legalization campaign has raised more than $3 million, largely funded by the Marijuana Policy Project, but were recently buoyed by a $100,000 donation last week from the makers of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap.
Insys, makers of the sublingual opioid spray Subsys, donated $500,000 to the anti-Proposition 205 campaign in the state last month. The Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Wine and Spirits Wholesale Association also donated $498,000 and $10,000, respectively.
According to the report, about 20 percent of Arizona’s incarcerated population are drug offenders. It’s not clear which portion of Services Group of America’s business involves jails and prisons or how many facilities serve as clients in the state. The company also provides food services to schools, cruise ships and hospitals.
Although the pro-campaign has slightly out-fundraised its opponents, they are being outspent 6-1, ABC-15 reported in September. The group is using the funds for TV ad buys, which allege that the state’s medical marijuana system would be disrupted by the proposition, calling it a “20-page special interest goldmine” creating “a Big Tobacco-like empire.”
Politifact ruled the ad’s claims “mostly false.”
Arizona is one of five states voting on legalizing and regulating adult cannabis use in November.