Pro-marijuana advocates raise $1 million in Oregon

By Courtney Sherwood PORTLAND Ore. (Reuters) – Supporters of a recreational marijuana ballot initiative in Oregon have raised $1 million in their effort to legalize, regulate and tax use of the drug by adults, campaign finance documents showed on Monday. The state said last month the initiative qualified for the November ballot, meaning Oregon could become only the third U.S. state after Colorado and Washington to allow recreational pot use. According to the campaign finance records released by the state, the largest donations by individuals came from out-of-state, with Philip Harvey, a Washington, D.C.-based libertarian activist, giving $150,000 to the legalization effort, and New York fragrance heir Henry van Ameringen giving $100,000. The group behind the legalization drive hopes to raise much more money before voters consider the issue, said Peter Zuckerman, spokesman for New Approach Oregon.