HipHopWired reports that the California Beer & Beverage Distributors donated $10,000 on September 7th to a committee opposing the California "Tax and Regulate Cannabis" marijuana legalization initiative, Prop 19. They joined the California Police Chiefs Association, which contributed $30,000 to the Prop 19 opponents, their largest donor so far.

"Alcohol sellers, both legal and illegal, have always been among the most ardent opponents of moves to lift restrictions on alcohol sales -- the former to protect their turf from new competition, the latter also to protect their turf from new competition," said David Borden, executive director of StoptheDrugWar.org, an organization which supports Prop 19.

"Now the alcohol industry has joined with many of California's current marijuana growers who also oppose the initiative, in order to preserve today's status quo for the same reasons," Borden continued. "Legalization is the biggest threat to today's illegal drug sellers, and they know it."