As the rhetoric heats up in California about why pot is so wonderful and so worthy of legalization, a national coalition announced its own initiative this week. It has raised more than $2 million to fight the November ballot initiative in the Golden State — and in four other states as well.

While it may only be a drop in the bucket compared to what those pushing for pot are spending on legalization efforts, some say it’s at least a start.

“[Proposition 64] is likely to have the biggest influence on other states considering similar proposals,” said one opponent.

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Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), an anti-legalization group, announced this week it is putting up the money through its political arm.

Among the more notable names involved with SAM and fighting the multiple ballot initiatives are former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, David Frum, senior editor of the Atlantic, and Kevin Sabet, president of SAM and a former drug policy adviser to the Obama administration.

“The opposition campaign to California’s Proposition 64 will eventually get a large amount of the money because its vote affects so many people and is likely to have the biggest influence on other states considering similar proposals,” Sabet told the Los Angeles Times.

“If there is one thing we agree on with legalization advocates, it’s that California is important,” Sabet added.

But how far can $2 million go in this fight?

Proponents have raised $6.7 million for their campaign to legalize the drug, compared to just over $163,000 raised by the California’s Coalition for Responsible Drug Policies, according to donation records on its website.

Opponents feel few are paying attention to the real costs of legalizing the drug recreationally — in large part because of the dollar signs promised through the sales of marijuana.

Proponents, on the other hand, say pot is already available to those who want it and argue the law would better protect minors, so what difference does it make?

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Proposition 64 will be on the ballot on Nov. 8. It would allow adults 21 and older to possess, transport, and use up to an ounce of cannabis for recreational purposes and would also impose a 15 percent tax on retail sales of the drug, the LA Times stated.

The official ballot summary is as follows:

“Legalizes marijuana and hemp under state law. Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry. Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15 percent of sales price, and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana from some taxation. Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products. Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana. Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana to minors. Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions.”

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California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana 20 years ago.

Passage of Proposition 64 would make it the fifth and largest state to approve recreational use of the drug.

SAM’s initiative will also reportedly fund battles against legalization this fall in Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine, and Arizona.