Proposition 64 Supporters Launch Grassroots Effort For Legal Pot Push

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Candidates for political office aren't the only one's campaigning. Interest groups for prop 64, which would legalize recreational marijuana, are launching a grassroots effort to get their message out.

"How do you educate and intoxicated mind. This is a bad idea for California."

Bishop Ron Allen with the International Faith Coalition and dozens of other faith and community leaders rallied today to spread their message about marijuana legalization.

"Is it grassroots? Absolutely because we're taking the hit more than anybody else," said Allen.

"A groundswell of people," said Tim Rosales.

He's with the "No on 64" effort and says there is a lack of understanding on how legal weed would affect communities.

"It's a plan for big business," said Rosales, "it's a plan for big marijuana."

Right now, the "No" campaign has raised about $2 million, according to Ballotopedia. The "Yes" Campaign has raised about $18 million.

"The majority of our funding has come from individuals and organizations who have zero interest in the marijuana industry," said Jason Kinney, a spokesperson for the "Yes on 64" campaign.

"t's doing it the right way. It's going to set a model for the nation," continued Kinney.

He argues Prop 64 is a collaborative effort between bright industry minds to put protections, restrictions and regulations in place.

"Our goal was to take a market that's operating illicitly with no oversight, no tracking, no tracing, and bring it into a legal market where people know what it is," said Kinney.

As special interests continue to push their points of view, elected officials are now voicing theirs.

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-4) said he "abhors the use of marijuana," but supports Prop 64 because it will "take the criminal profit out of the equation."

On the other side, Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) spoke out against Prop 64 this summer.

Opinions and views aside, it's up to the voter to decide marijuana's future in November.