Anthony Penna Jr., CTF's legal counsel, said in the release: "This is about money, plain and simple."
"These people know that no one who actually lives in Clinton Township would support having 24 of these facilities in our community, so they are trying to trick the voters," Penna said in the release. "The people pouring $620,000 into our community are not from here and they don't care about the people who live here."
Clinton Township voters will decide during the March 10 presidential primary whether to approve amendments to a township ordinance that would "authorize and limit the type and number" of marijuana establishments allowed," and asks voters if the proposal should be adopted.
Township officials have twice opted out of allowing recreational pot. That sparked Clinton Township Yes to collect signatures to force the issue before voters.
If approved, the election would would reverse township officials' decision to opt out of legal marijuana sales, which came after Michigan voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2018.
According to Clinton Township officials, there could 8 to 12 retail establishments, along with three testers, three transporters, three growers and three processors that can eventually receive state licenses to operate if voters approved the measure March 10.
The campaign finance report for the pro-pot group known as Clinton Township Yes, which was released Friday, shows the organization has spent its money primarily for digital marketing, legal fees, mailing costs and production fees.
According to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs records, the Detroit-based law firm Dykema in September 2019 formed a nonprofit organization Citizens for Clinton Township. Dykema is the lead counsel for Clinton Township Yes.
Penna said the unidentified marijuana donors have filtered 100% of their contributions through Citizens for Clinton Township. As a result, Penna said, it's impossible to identify a single contributor.
By contrast, Clinton Township First -- made up of residents, educators, business owners and church members -- says its members have not been afraid to put their names and faces up front in their fight to stop the pot shops from setting up.
Steve Linder of Strategy Works, a Lansing-based consulting firm, heads up the pro-pot group CTY, a consortium of cannabis companies looking to set up dispensaries in the township. He was involved with the passage of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act in 2016, which licenses and regulates medical marijuana. Voters in Michigan approved legalizing marijuana through a ballot measure in 2018.
Linder said the Citizens for Clinton Township group is a nonprofit foundation that was formed by Clinton Township residents and supports the Clinton Township Yes group's efforts.
He said the campaign contributions to launch a petition drive to put an ordinance on the March 10 ballot, engage in litigation for court battles filed by opponents and educate voters about the economic benefits of the legalized pot. He said it's no different than the local chamber of commerce creating a committee to support a political issue.
"Communicating to, and educating this many residents about this new industry, and defeat the opposition who tried to use the court to deny the citizens the right to vote, and to respond to the dishonest negative campaign conducted by those who want this ordinance defeated, takes a lot of financial resources," he said.
The Clinton Township First group says it is the pot supporters that have been deceptive in its claims.
"There is a saying that one person defending their home is more powerful than 10 hired soldiers," Penna said in the release. "These people are about to find that out."
Meanwhile, Clinton Township Yes last week filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of State, Campaign Finance Division, alleging the regulated candidate committees of three township trustees violated the state's campaign finance act.
The complaint charges candidate committees for Treasurer Paul Gileghem, and trustees Mike Keys and Ken Pearl paid for a mailing to township residents paid for by funds donated to their committees. Michigan law allows the committees to only spend money for the nomination and election of the candidate.
The mailing urges residents to vote against the ballot proposal.
A spokesman for Michigan's Bureau of Elections has confirmed the complaint and will determine if it warrants an investigation within five business days.
In a statement, the three township officials labeled the complaint "frivolous."
"All laws were followed," the trio said. "The mailer in question was a legal in-kind contribution to the ballot question committee opposing this proposal."
This is the second campaign finance complaint Linder's group has filed with the state. The first one alleged Clinton Township First members of failing to include legal disclaimers in flyers, emails and signs soliciting contributions or urging residents to vote against the measure. Clinton Township First officials say all of their campaign materials were legal and carried the appropriate disclaimers.
Violating the campaign finance laws is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
