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New Approach PAC
| New Approach PAC | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | 527 group |
| Top official: | Graham A. Boyd, Director |
| Year founded: | 2014 |
New Approach PAC is a 527 nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and based in Washington, D.C. The organization supports progressive initiatives, especially initiatives that seek to legalize medical and recreational marijuana.[1]
Mission
According to the New Approach PAC, the group's mission is as follows:[1]
| “ |
To support the reform of marijuana laws and progressive causes, including but not limited to, support of state ballot initiatives and candidates.[2] |
” |
Background
New Approach PAC is a 527 nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. According to IRS filings, the group was established in April 2014, and named Graham A. Boyd as custodian, principal, and director.[3] Boyd is an attorney, consultant, and scholar who specializes in "political efforts to reform drug laws and reduce mass incarceration."[4] Boyd previously helped found the ACLU's Drug Law Reform Project and was a senior visiting fellow at the think tank Third Way and at Stanford Law School.[5]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details New Approach PAC's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
Ballot measure activity
Colorado Proposition 122, Decriminalization and Regulated Access Program for Certain Psychedelic Plants and Fungi Initiative (2022)
Proposition 122 was designed to decriminalize the use of the psychedelic plants and fungi and create a services program for administration of such substances. It defined certain psychedelic plants and fungi as natural medicine, including dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline (excluding peyote), psilocybin, and psilocyn; decriminalized the personal use, possession, growth, and transport of natural medicines for persons 21 years old and older; and created the Regulated Natural Medicine Access Program for licensed healing centers to administer natural medicine services. The measure passed with 54% of the vote on November 8, 2022. The New Approach PAC contributed a total of $4.60 million to the support committees.[18]
South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
Initiated Measure 27 was designed to legalize the possession, distribution, and use of marijuana for people who are at least 21 years old. The measure was defeated on November 8, 2022. The New Approach Advocacy Fund contributed $68,435 to the support committee.[19]
North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
Measure 2 was designed to legalize the use and possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for adults 21 years old and older, allowing individuals to grow up to three marijuana plants. The measure was defeated on November 8, 2022. The New Approach Advocacy Fund contributed $306,839 to the support committee.[20]
Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
Amendment 3 was designed to allow the state legislature to legalize marijuana in Missouri. It legalized the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one; allowed individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged; and enacted a six percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana. The measure was approved by 53% of the vote on November 8, 2022.[21]
Washington, D.C., Initiative 81, Entheogenic Plants and Fungus Measure
Initiative 81 was designed to declare that police shall treat the non-commercial cultivation, distribution, possession, and use of entheogenic plants and fungi as among the lowest law enforcement priorities. The ballot initiative was designed to define entheogenic plants and fungi as species of plants and fungi that contain ibogaine, dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, psilocybin, or psilocyn. Examples include psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, peyote, and iboga. The ballot initiative would also ask the D.C. Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for D.C. to cease the prosecution of residents who engage with entheogenic plants and fungi.[22] New Approach PAC was one of the largest donors to the support campaign.
California Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative (2020)
New Approach PAC donated $50,000 to the campaign in support of the California Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative. The measure would require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value, rather than their purchase price.[13]
Oregon Measure 109, Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative (2020)
New Approach PAC donated $875,000 to the campaign in support of the Oregon Psilocybin Program Initiative. The measure would create a program and client screening process for administering psilocybin services under the Oregon Health Authority. The program would permit licensed service providers to administer a psilocybin product to pre-screened individuals 21 years of age or older through a process that consists of preparation, administration, and integration sessions.[14]
Mississippi Ballot Measure 1, Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, Medical Marijuana Amendment (2020)
Initiative 65 is an indirect initiated constitutional amendment and Alternative 65 was referred to the ballot alongside Initiative 65 as an alternative measure by the state legislature. Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A would both amend the Mississippi Constitution to provide for the establishment of a medical marijuana program in Mississippi for individuals with a debilitating medical condition. Under Initiative 65, medical marijuana could be recommended for patients with at least one of the 22 specified qualifying conditions. Alternative 65A does not specify qualifying conditions, possession limits, or a tax rate. Many details would need to be set by the state legislature. New Approach PAC donated $25,000 in support of the measure.[15]
Oklahoma Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
New Approach PAC indicated its support for a marijuana legalization measure filed in Oklahoma.[11]
South Dakota Marijuana Initiatives (2020)
New Approach PAC supported two initiatives in South Dakota on the 2020 ballot.[16] New Approach South Dakota and South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws both supported Initiated Measure 26 and Constitutional Amendment A. According to reports that covered through December 31, 2019, the committees raised $989,503 and spent $966,024. New Approach PAC contributed 93% of the funds, including $874,596 in cash and $48,382 in in-kind contributions.[23]
Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)
New Approach PAC supported the Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative. The measure was filed targeting the 2020 ballot. The ballot measure was designed to add an article to the Nebraska Constitution to legalize medical marijuana.[24]
Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)
New Approach PAC donated $188,470 of in-kind contributions. The ballot measure was designed to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, tax marijuana sales at 4 percent, and spend tax revenue on healthcare services for veterans. It was approved with 65.59 percent of the vote.[17]
Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018)
New Approach PAC donated to the campaign supporting Amendment 4 on the 2018 ballot. The measure was approved. Amendment 4 was designed to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation.[25]
Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative (2018)
Michigan Proposal 1, approved by voters in 2018, legalized the recreational use and possession of marijuana for persons 21 years of age or older and enacted a tax on marijuana sales. New Approach PAC contributed $1.78 million in cash and in-kind contributions to the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the committee supporting the measure.
Arkansas Medical Marijuana Initiative (2016)
- See also: Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act (2016)
On July 19, 2016, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Arkansans for Compassionate Care received a contribution of $12,500 from New Approach PAC in June. Arkansans for Compassionate Care sponsored the measure.[26] The measure appeared on the 2016 ballot, but results were not counted since the Arkansas Supreme Court struck Issue 7 from the ballot on October 27, 2016.
California Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2016)
New Approach PAC contributed $500,000 in support of California's Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana for persons aged 21 years or older under state law and establishing certain sales and cultivation taxes. The contribution went to Californians to Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana.[27]
Maine Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2016)
New Approach PAC contributed $105,000 to the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol in Maine.[27] Maine voted to legalize recreational marijuana on November 8, 2016.
Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2016)
New Approach PAC contributed $4.35 million in support of Massachusetts Question 4 of 2016. Question 4, which was approved, legalized marijuana and proposed to regulate it similarly to alcohol.
Oregon Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2014)
In 2014, New Approach PAC contributed $1,850,000 in support of Oregon's legalized marijuana initiative.[3] The group made contributions to Yes on 91 and New Approach Oregon. Yes on 91 received $1,100,000 and New Approach Oregon received a total of $750,000.[28] The measure passed with 56 percent of the votes.[29]
Noteworthy events
2016
New Approach PAC contributed $26,350 to the Drug Policy Action Group, a pro-drug reform group, which operates in several states, including Florida, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii.[30][27]
Finances
The following is a breakdown of New Approach PAC's revenues and expenses as submitted to the IRS for the 2014 to 2017 fiscal years:
| Annual revenue and expenses for New Approach PAC, 2014–2017 | ||
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2017[1] | $1,045,501 | $1,141,697 |
| 2016[31] | $7,017,000 | $825,275 |
| 2015[32] | $6,767,000 | $234,520 |
| 2014[3] | $2,160,000 | $2,075,378 |
Tax status
New Approach PAC is a 527 group. 527 group refers to the IRS section 527 designated nonprofit organization such as a political party, committee, association, or fund operating primarily for the purpose of influencing the election or selection of candidates to political office. Many political action committees and super PAC groups are designated 527 groups.[33] 527 groups can engage in campaign politics with no campaign limits, specifically supporting or attacking candidates, and must disclose donors. A 527 group may not, however, coordinate its activities with any campaign..
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'New Approach PAC'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Marijuana on the ballot
- Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018)
- Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act (2016)
- California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)
- Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)
- Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 IRS, "New Approach PAC 2017 Form 990," accessed November 18, 2019
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedirs14 - ↑ Graham A. Boyd, Wordpress, "Home," accessed November 18, 2019
- ↑ NYU, "Graham Boyd," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Marijuana Moment, "Oklahoma Activists File New Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative For 2022 With National Group’s Support," January 2, 2022
- ↑ Marijuana Moment, "Colorado Activists Turn In Signatures To Put Psychedelics Legalization And Therapeutic Psilocybin Program On Ballot," June 27, 2022
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws," accessed January 9, 2023
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "New Approach North Dakota Ballot Measure Committee," accessed January 9, 2023
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Legal Missouri 2022," accessed January 9, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Tulsa World, "Recreational marijuana proponents file new petition (copy)," accessed December 30, 2019
- ↑ D.C. Office of Campaign Finance, "Financial Reports," accessed August 17, 2020
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 California Secretary of State, "Schools and Communities First Campaign Finance," accessed on March 29, 2020
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Orego Secretary of State, "PSI 2020 Campaign Finance," accessed on March 25, 2020
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance reporting system," accessed June 24, 2020
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Marijuana Policy Project, "SOUTH DAKOTA GROUPS SUBMIT PETITIONS TO QUALIFY MARIJUANA REFORM BALLOT INITIATIVES FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION," accessed November 18, 2019
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Missouri Ethics Commission, "Candidate or Committee Name Search," accessed July 26, 2018
- ↑ Colorado TRACER, "Natural Medicine Colorado," accessed November 1, 2022
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Reporting," accessed November 11, 2022
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Online: New Approach North Dakota Ballot Measure Committee," accessed August 30, 2022
- ↑ Missouri Ethics Commission, "Legal Missouri 2022," accessed May 3, 2022
- ↑ D.C. Board of Elections, "Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020," accessed March 15, 2020
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Reporting System," accessed February 3, 2020
- ↑ 3 News Now, "Medical marijuana petition drive running strong in Nebraska," July 21, 2019
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Committee backing voting restoration amendment raises $1.1M in November," December 13, 2017
- ↑ Arkansas Online, "Marijuana proposal's backers raise $16,401," July 19, 2016
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Open Secrets, "New Approach PAC, expenditures 2016," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Open Secrets, "New Approach PAC, expenditures 2014," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ New Approach Oregon, "Home," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Drug Policy Action, "Campaigns," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Open Secrets, "New Approach PAC, overview," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ IRS, "New Approach PAC 2015 Form 990," accessed November 18, 2019
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Exemption Requirements - Political Organizations," accessed January 12, 2015
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