Marijuana

An Oregon legalization measure is continuing to receive major support from deep-pocketed donors.

(The Associated Press)

A political action committee formed by family members of the late billionaire insurance executive Peter Lewis has given $250,000 to a marijuana legalization initiative that backers are seeking to qualify for the November ballot in Oregon.

Lewis, who died last year, had turned Progressive into one of the country's largest auto insurers and was a major donor to marijuana legalization and medical marijuana campaigns around the country.

Lewis had given $96,000 to the Oregon initiative, sponsored by New Approach Oregon, before his death in November and there was speculation that his demise would seriously undercut the legalization effort in Oregon. However, the latest contribution shows that his family is willing to provide additional support.

"It's clear that his family is doing this to honor his legacy," said Graham Boyd, a longtime adviser to Peter Lewis who is also heading the new committee, which is called New Approach PAC.

Contributors to the new committee include Lewis' two sons, Jonathan and Adam, his brother Dan Lewis and his ex-wife, Toby Lewis, Boyd said. Other contributors to the new committee include New York fragrance company heir Henry van Ameringen, family planning philanthropist Phil Harvey and Cari Tuna, the wife of one of Facebook's co-founders. Also contributing is David Bronner, the CEO of a California soap company that is a major donor to the Oregon initiative that would require labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients.

Liz Kaufman, who is managing the Oregon initiative campaign, said her group has also received another $150,000 from New York-based Drug Policy Action, which had earlier given $200,000.

Drug Policy Action, which has received major support from billionaire George Soros, was a major backer of Washington's successful legalization initiative in 2012. Lewis contributed just over $2 million to that campaign.

Boyd declined to say how much New Approach PAC has raised, saying it would be disclosed in a June 20 federal filing. He said the group will be supporting a variety of efforts relating to marijuana but said he wouldn't predict if there will be further contributions to the Oregon measure.

New Approach Oregon, which has raised more than $900,000 since starting last year, is in the midst of gathering the 87,213 signatures needed by July 3 to qualify for the November ballot. Another group is also collecting signatures for two other proposals to legalize marijuana.

-- Jeff Mapes