Story Highlights

• The director of a group behind an initiative to legalize pot in Arizona threatened to target a marijuana dispensary medical director who joined a competing legalization effort.
• The influential Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project and the newly created Arizonans for Responsible Legalization have both said they will pursue initiatives in 2016.
• The documents shed light on conflicting philosophies behind the proposed ballot measures.

The director of a group behind an initiative to legalize pot in Arizona threatened to target the business affairs of a marijuana dispensary medical director who joined a competing legalization effort, documents obtained by The Arizona Republic show.

Two groups have filed paperwork with the Secretary of State to pursue initiatives legalizing recreational marijuana: the influential Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project and the newly created Arizonans for Responsible Legalization.

The conflict focuses on Gina Berman, medical director at the Giving Tree Wellness Center...