Pro-pot group pays activist in Idaho

HAILEY, Idaho – A libertarian activist who persuaded Hailey voters to pass pro-marijuana initiatives in 2007 and 2008 says he’s gotten $30,000 from a national group he’d sued on claims it welched on a promise to fund his efforts.

In 2004, Ryan Davidson won a $60,000 grant from the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, to push pro-pot ballot measures in central Idaho cities.

But the group withdrew the cash after the communities blocked Davidson’s efforts.

The Idaho Supreme Court later cleared the way for his initiatives to go before voters in Hailey, but Davidson says the Marijuana Policy Project refused to cooperate.

Davidson will get to keep about $11,000 from the group’s payment, which came after he won a jury trial in September. The rest will cover his legal fees.

During the trial, Davidson had asked for $44,000, plus legal fees. Marijuana Policy Project director Rob Kampia said Tuesday he was disappointed to have lost the jury verdict, but pleased the final payment was short of Davidson’s demands.

Meanwhile, most of Davidson’s initiatives, including legalizing medical marijuana, have been thrown out in state court.