cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar Urges 'No' Vote On Pot Proposition 





Drug Czar Urges 'No' Vote On Pot Proposition 
Posted by CN Staff on October 11, 2002 at 07:12:45 PT
By Joseph Barrios 
Source: Arizona Daily Star 
The nation's drug czar was in Tucson and Phoenix on Wednesday urging voters to defeat Proposition 203, the "medical marijuana" initiative that would decriminalize possessing small amounts of the drug. The measure also would allow people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes with a doctor's recommendation.
John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, was joined by Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, Sheriff Clarence Dupnik and Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon on Wednesday at Compass Healthcare Vida Serena, a residential drug treatment center at 2835 N. Stone Ave. Walters and Salmon were joined at a Phoenix press conference by Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Janet Napolitano. Walters spoke about the dangers of marijuana and the problems that Prop. 203 would present if passed by voters. While supporters say they want to help alleviate suffering from medical conditions, Walters said the real goal is to legalize drugs. Proposition 203 calls for the Department of Public Safety to provide up to 2 ounces of free marijuana every month to anyone who has received a doctor's recommendation. Those same people would be allowed to legally grow two marijuana plants for their personal use. The measure would decriminalize possession of marijuana in small amounts. Walters criticized marijuana use and the ballot measure on several levels. Millions of people addicted to drugs need treatment, Walters said. Most of them have a problem with marijuana, he said. According to a national 2001 survey on drug abuse, more than 8 million people reported using only marijuana while an additional more than 7 million people use marijuana in conjunction with at least one other drug. Today's marijuana, including hybrid variations, is more potent than ever, Walters said. Research shows that teens who use marijuana are more likely to use it and other drugs as they get older. As for arguments that marijuana can treat ailments and help people "feel better," Walters said there are already drugs commercially available to treat medical conditions like glaucoma and nausea, including a marijuana derivative already approved by the federal government. "It's a kind of general insult to the people of this state that this measure got on the ballot," Walters said. He added that it's "cruel and irresponsible" to say marijuana is safe. But Jeffrey Singer, a Phoenix doctor who supports the measure, said flatly that marijuana is not addictive. He added that numerous studies have been conducted indicating that marijuana does have redeeming medical qualities. He said it's clear that Arizonans want to see a medical marijuana law in place after they approved similar measures in 1996 and 1998. Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)Author: Joseph BarriosPublished: Thursday, October 10, 2002Copyright: 2002 Pulitzer Publishing Co.Contact: letters azstarnet.comWebsite: http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/Related Articles:Prop. 302, Not 203, is Best Drug-Law Fixhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14423.shtmlDrug Czar Calls Ariz Marijuana Initiative 'Stupid'http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14415.shtmlMarijuana Lacks Medicinal Value, Drug Czar Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14414.shtmlDrug Czar Condemns Pot Decriminalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14413.shtml
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