The anti-recreational marijuana campaign in Michigan has added former Michigan Senate Majority leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, as one of its spokesmen.

"This is the worst idea we've had for Michigan in a long time," Richardville said to MLive of the marijuana ballot question, explaining he plans to be "actively and passionately" engaged in campaigning against it.

In November voters will decide the fate of a ballot proposal that seeks to legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan.

The opposition to the measure is organizing through a group called Healthy and Productive Michigan, which has received most of its funding from a national organization -- SAM Action (Smart Approaches to Marijuana).

SAM was founded in 2013 by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island; Canadian-American journalist David Frum and drug policy expert Kevin Sabet. SAM Action claims it promotes healthy marijuana policies that don't legalize drugs.

Healthy and Productive Michigan has been organized by Scott Greenlee, a Grand Rapids consultant who was a former vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. Matthew Yascolt is the campaign's grassroots coordinator.

In addition to beefing up its team this summer, Healthy and Productive Michigan has been hosting what it bills as informational events in the Detroit area with a SAM Action speaker to push its anti-legalization message.

Richardville said he now receives "a small stipend" from Healthy and Productive Michigan for his advocacy. He said he joined the campaign after speaking with Greenlee and reading the ballot language.

"I don't necessarily disagree with recreational marijuana," Richardville said. "I think people that put this ballot proposal together in such a shoddy way that does nothing but invite young people and others that aren't prepared to deal with recreational marijuana responsibly."

Richardville appeared in a marijuana debate hosted by WWJ Newsradio 950 that aired July 16.

In addition to Richardville, Healthy and Productive Michigan announced this week that Bishop Ira Combs Jr. of Greater Bible Way Temple in Jackson had endorsed their opposition campaign. Combs has a history of opposition to gay marriage and LGBT equality measures.

As of April, Healthy and Productive Michigan had $215,286 in the bank for its opposition campaign, according to state records. Its biggest contributor: SAM Action, which donated for $150,000 in December 2017 and $125,000 in April to the campaign, according to state records.

The group behind the ballot question -- Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol -- had $17,826 in the bank as of April, state records show. The group has raised $920,422 so far this election cycle, but has spent most of it. One of its biggest donors is the Washington D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, which has contributed $429,205 so far this election cycle, according to state records.

As the summer progresses, Healthy and Productive Michigan is starting to push its opposition message to the ballot proposal to groups around Detroit.

Will Jones, a communications and outreach associate for SAM Action, has appeared at multiple events in the Detroit area in the past week involving Healthy and Productive Michigan and the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority. At least one of the events targeted black residents, claiming legalized recreational marijuana would hurt the black community in the way that liquor stores have proliferated in neighborhoods.

The marijuana legalization ballot proposal will be before Michigan voters at the polls Nov. 6.

If approved, people over the age of 21 would be able to possess, consume and use recreational marijuana. The issue will be decided by voters after the Michigan legislature failed to approve its own ballot language on the issue.