Major Funder Of Montana Marijuana Legalization Initiative Could Be Prosecuted For Campaign Finance Violations

An organization that contributed millions of dollars to the campaign behind Montana’s successful marijuana legalization ballot initiative is facing potential prosecution following an investigation into its refusal to reveal the names of its own donors.

North Fund, which registered as an incidental political committee in the state, put $4,709,520 toward the reform measure. But an anti-legalization activist filed a complaint prior to the November vote alleging that the group is actually an independent committee that is required to disclose information about where its funds come from.

At issue is whether the group exists mainly to influence elections.

An independent committee is defined as having “the primary purpose of supporting or opposing candidates or ballot issues but is neither a ballot issue nor a political party political committee.” Meanwhile, an incidental political committee is one “that does not have the primary purpose of supporting or opposing candidates or ballot issues.”