David Lombardo reports in the Albany Times Union that New York's Joint Commission on Public Ethics on Sept. 10 denied a request from the New York chapter of Smart Approaches to Marijuana for its donors to remain a secret. The group claims its supporters would be subject to harassment and economic reprisal if identified. "JCOPE's regulations have unfortunately been manipulated to favor corporations and large national advocacy groups who hide their donors through loopholes in state laws," SAM-NY President Dr. Kevin Sabet said. New York requires social welfare organizations such as SAM-NY that lobby, to disclose their funding sources unless they can prove there is a "substantial likelihood" of harm or reprisals. The group spent more than $84,000 successfully lobbying against marijuana legalization during the latest legislative session. Pro-legalization group Drug Policy Alliance spent more than $89,000 promoting different views, but has a blanket disclosure exemption for charitable organizations. Sabet did not say whether the group would appeal the decision. Read more about this story in the Albany Times Union.