Pot startup donates $2 million in bid to legalize marijuana in CA

One of California’s largest marijuana-related apps is donating $2 million toward the drive to legalize weed in the state — a move that not only would vastly expand its customer base but also foreshadows an expected increase in political activity from the cannabis industry.

Orange County dispensary-locating startup WeedMaps.com contributed $1 million Friday to a campaign committee called Californians for Sensible Reform, which will back what it feels will be the strongest marijuana legalization measure on the 2016 ballot. The company will also put another $1 million in a political action committee called Californians for Sensible Reform PAC that supports weed-friendly candidates.

“We’re doing it because legal adult use of marijuana is inevitable. California has always an innovator and we’re falling behind other states,” WeedMaps founder Justin Hartfield told The Chronicle Friday. “We wanted to do it to make a statement that we’re serious about this.”

Friday’s donation was a sign that unlike 2010’s failed statewide legalization campaign, cannabis industry businesses are going to be major players.

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Pot-startup-donates-2-million-to-bid-to-legalize-6207749.php

Hartfield boasted last year to The Chronicle about not accepting “one dime” of Silicon Valley money for any of his pot-related enterprises while his business made “north of $25 million a year.”