| Formation | March 2022 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Oppose cannabis legalization |
Protect Our Kids is a political action committee (PAC) created to oppose legalization of cannabis in the United States in 2022. A so-called super PAC, Protect Our Kids is permitted to raise and spend unlimited amounts of corporate, union, and individual campaign contributions under the terms of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.[1]
Protect Our Kids was created by Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a nonprofit anti-cannabis political organization, in March 2022 before the mid-term elections and the House vote on the MORE Act (federal legalization).[2][3] One of the first actions of the PAC was to oppose the re-election of Republican U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, who had introduced the States Reform Act that would remove cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (known as de-scheduling).[4][5]
The organization funding of lawsuits failed to remove the 2022 Missouri marijuana legalization initiative from the November ballot in Missouri, after it was certified by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.[6] Despite the spending by the Protect Our Kids PAC, the people of Missouri voted to approve recreational cannabis on November 8, 2022.
See also
References
- ↑ "The 'Citizens United' decision and why it matters". Center for Public Integrity. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ↑ Luige DelPuerto (March 29, 2022). "Colorado-based anti-drug super PAC launches with attack ads against South Carolina's Nancy Mace". Colorado Politics.
- ↑ ELISSA SALAMY (March 31, 2022). "New PAC aims to give parents a voice in fighting against the legalization of marijuana". The National Desk – via KOMO News (Seattle).
- ↑ Cassidy Morrison (March 29, 2022). "New parent-driven PAC will oppose drug legalization in Congress and states". Washington Examiner.
- ↑ Nick Reynolds (March 28, 2022). "Anti-marijuana group launches opposition campaign to SC's Nancy Mace reelection bid". The Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina.
- ↑ Tessa Weinberg (August 22, 2022). "Lawsuit asks judge to block marijuana legalization from appearing on Missouri ballot". Missouri Independent.
Further reading
- Luige Del Puerto (March 28, 2022). "Colorado-based super PAC launches nationwide campaign to attack pro-marijuana candidates". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- Parents against drug legalization launch Protect Our Kids PAC. Fox & Friends (streaming video). Fox News. March 30, 2022.
- Tony Lange (March 29, 2022). "New PAC Backed by SAM Executive Launches Campaign to Unseat Rep. Nancy Mace". Cannabis Business Times.
Protect Our Kids was filed by Smart Approaches to Marijuana executive Luke Niforatos and will target cannabis reform advocates.