cannabisnews.com: Candidate Backs Initiative To Liberalize Pot Law





Candidate Backs Initiative To Liberalize Pot Law
Posted by CN Staff on August 18, 2002 at 13:26:04 PT
By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Source: Arizona Daily Sun
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Alfredo Gutierrez broke with most of his foes Friday, publicly backing an initiative to further liberalize the state's drug laws. Gutierrez declared the war on drugs "a failure.'' He said Arizonans realize that, having voted twice -- in 1996 and again in 1998 -- to precludethe jailing of those with small amounts of any illegal drug. Instead, offenders are to be put on probation and sent for drug counseling.
Proposition 203 would go a step farther -- at least with marijuana -- and say possession of up to two ounces is a civil violation punish- able by a maximum fine of $250. What is causing the biggest stir, though, is another provision saying that those who have a doctor's written recommendation can possess the weed without fear of arrest or confiscation. And they could get their drugs -- legally -- from the state Department of Public Safety. That possibility bemused DPS Chief Dennis Garrett. "I've been in the business for 40 years," he said. "And to think that I would end my career being one of the biggest drug distributors in the state, I just can't go along with that." Virtually all of the other gubernatorial candidates have come out against Proposition 203 for exactly that reason. "I am certainly not in favor of the Department of Public Safety dealing marijuana,'' Republican Betsey Bayless said Friday. Carol Springer, another GOP candidate, called it "an absolutely ludicrous idea." The other Democrats in the race expressed similar sentiments. Mike Newcomb said decriminalization makes some sense. But Osterloh, a doctor, said he cannot support having the DPS become a supplier. "Marijuana is clearly a drug and should be regulated as such,'' he said. Gutierrez, however, said he sees nothing wrong with the state providing drugs to those with serious or terminal illnesses, citing his mother's death of cancer. "She suffered unmercifully," he said. "If marijuana would have relieved her pain, I would have bought it on the streets for her, state and federal laws be damned." Garrett countered that there are other drugs available to provide pain relief. Anyway, he said, if the state is to get in the business of providing drugs, then some agency with expertise should handle it, like the Department of Health Services. Democrat Mark Osterloh, another physician in the race, suggested that those who claim there is a need for medical marijuana may not be telling the whole story. "I think it's being used as an excuse to decriminalize it," he said. Osterloh said if that's the aim, proponents should simply put that issue on the ballot and not mix it up with medical issues. The only other candidate in support of the initiative is independent Richard Mahoney. The whole issue of having DPS as drug distributors has cost the initiative support on other fronts. Earlier this week, former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, who had backed the 1996 and 1998 ballot measures, said he would not support this year's version because of that provision. Source: Arizona Daily Sun (AZ)Author: Howard Fischer, Capitol Media ServicesPublished: August 17, 2002Copyright: 2002 Arizona Daily SunContact: azdsopinion azdailysun.comWebsite: http://www.azdailysun.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Gutierrez 2002 http://www.alfredo2002.comGubernatorial Candidate Endorses Drug Initiativehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13779.shtmlMarijuana Initiative Qualifies for Arizona Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13727.shtmlPot Battle Looming for State http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12717.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by p4me on August 18, 2002 at 14:44:18 PT
Let the lost speak their stupidity
"Marijuana is clearly a drug and should be regulated as such,'' he said.Well that is one prohibitionist's opinion. It is prohibited now and not regulated. Yes, it should be regulated- it is the basic reformers call for change."I am certainly not in favor of the Department of Public Safety dealing marijuana,'' Republican Betsey Bayless said Friday. Carol Springer, another GOP candidate, called it "an absolutely ludicrous idea.Just what is so ludicrous. The present policy is ludicrous. I mean the prohibitionist are causing the deaths of many people that need MMJ to stay alive, much less cope with medical conditions. The prohibitionist are fighting even growing hemp period and not just foodstuffs and we are the only major industrialized nation in the world to be so ludicrous. And then there are the insane marijuana laws we have now that are ludicrous.I regard the woman's use of the word ludicrous as goofy. So I say there are a lot of paths leading to legalisation that are not straight paths and therefor not the best way to go, but with all the stupid prohibitionist walking around scared that their world is coming to an end, it is not possible to take the straight path the reformers want to follow. And I might add we have a dickhead for a president that doesn't mind killing people or twisting their rights from them or stacking the judges of the courts with more Christian mythologist.1,2
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Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on August 18, 2002 at 14:39:06 PT:
I Prefer to Avoid Citicism, but---
"Democrat Mark Osterloh, another physician in the race, suggested that those who claim there is a need for medical marijuana may not be telling the whole story. 
"I think it's being used as an excuse to decriminalize it," he said.This guy is a lousy physician and a lousy candidate.
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Comment #1 posted by VitaminT on August 18, 2002 at 14:13:28 PT
Ok officers, lets get this straight!
What the hell is the big damn deal?Cops "don't want" to distribute the pot stolen from smugglers and peaceful smokers? Big Shit!!! I may not "want" to roll out of bed tomorrow and go to work. However, I know that my paycheck is conditional - If I don't do my job, I won't get paid. A pretty simple concept!!!I guess cops think it's not just a job it's an EMPIRE.They should take time to remember whom they work for! 
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