SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's largest organization of practicing physicians, the California Medical Association, announced Monday that it is backing a proposed 2016 ballot initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

A coalition of entrepreneurs, activists, environmentalists and state politicians are backing the initiative, led by billionaire technology investor Sean Parker.

CMA said in a statement that its members believe controlling, tracking and studying pot will better protect public health than "ineffective prohibition."

Spokeswoman Molly Weedn said the medical association is most interested in provisions of the proposal that would expand marijuana research.

"We feel that this initiative specifically is in line with the concerns we had for better monitoring and research of cannabis," Weedn said.

CMA has also supported legalizing medical marijuana, although it disapproves of physicians playing gatekeeper for public access to the drug.

The California initiative would allow anyone age 21 or older to purchase up to...