Calif. pot battle gears back up; tech money seen taking a role

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SAN FRANCISCO — A simmering battle among California's marijuana legalization advocates is getting new focus as Gov. Jerry Brown considers three laws laying the groundwork for legal recreational pot next year.

It's a topic that's previously attracted the financial backing of some of tech's best known and wealthiest founders, such as Napster co-founder and Facebook investor Sean Parker, and they're expected to jump into the ring this time, too.

Brown is considering legislation creating very basic marijuana regulations in the state, where recreational marijuana remains illegal.

The legislation would create a structure for selling recreational marijuana, which is expected to be legalized during California's 2016 election, when one or more ballot initiatives on legal pot are likely. Brown has until the end-of-day Sunday  to decide on the framework laws.

The specific language of the expected ballot initiatives matters significantly. If it's at odds with what Brown is expected to sign, legalization efforts could be delayed while conflicts get resolved.

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