cannabisnews.com: Proposition 203 Seeks To Reduce Pot Penalties





Proposition 203 Seeks To Reduce Pot Penalties
Posted by CN Staff on October 31, 2002 at 12:59:35 PT
By Michelle Rushlo, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press
Arizona voters will be asked on Nov. 5 to relax laws against marijuana possession for most users and to add provisions forcing state police to distribute the drug to seriously ill people. Proposition 203 is the latest in a string of drug initiatives Arizonans have been asked to consider since 1996. All have been supported by a small group of wealthy backers.
The People Have Spoken, the group supporting 203, has raised $1.24 million in the last year, according to Sept. 30 campaign finance records. Most of the money has come from two people: investor George Soros and John Sperling, the chairman of the Apollo Group, the parent company of the University of Phoenix."We've said this is more of a referendum on the war on drugs," said People Have Spoken spokesman Sam Vagenas. "The bottom line is that voters have approved medical marijuana not once, but twice, but the Legislature and the feds keep thwarting that, so we're forced to go back to the ballot again."Arizonans first approved an initiative dealing with the medical use of illegal drugs in 1996.The following year, the state Legislature modified the law to say the drugs would become legal in Arizona once the Food and Drug Administration approved marijuana as a prescription drug. Lawmakers also stripped diversion program provisions from the law.In 1998, supporters went back to the ballot and won voter approval to undo the legislative actions, restoring the 1996 initiative to law.This year's initiative deals with how the state treats both recreational drug users and patients using marijuana medicinally.It decriminalizes possession of up to two ounces of marijuana for any user, reducing the penalty to a civil fine, something akin to a speeding ticket penalty. Opponents say two ounces is enough to roll up to 200 cigarettes; supporters of 203 say that estimate is too high but won't say by how much.In addition to decriminalization, Proposition 203 also would require the Arizona Department of Public Safety to provide up to two ounces of free marijuana to ill people who have recommendations - not necessarily prescriptions - from their doctors.The marijuana would come from law enforcement seizures and would be tested before it was distributed."Clearly, it's flawed. Whoever heard of our state police handing out marijuana for free to anyone claiming a need? It's bizarre," said Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, one of the most outspoken opponents of 203.He and other opponents say supporters are pushing the state toward legalization of drugs under the guise of assisting sick people. "They use the ill and suffering," Romley said.Vagenas denies his group is using medical marijuana as a ruse. "We've always had broader drug reform" as part of initiatives, he said.Former state Attorney General Grant Woods, a 203 supporter, said the state should quit wasting money arresting and processing recreational drug users, who rarely face jail time anyway."The time has come to decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana," he said. "Some of the hysteria on the other side reflects the failed approach we've tried for a long time."Possession of marijuana in any amount is against federal law and would remain so even if 203 passes.But opponents say federal prosecutors are unlikely to take on drug possession cases."They'll never step in. There's just too many cases," Romley said.Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk said she fears decriminalizing marijuana possession will just encourage drug use among teenagers.It will also hurt efforts to keep drugs from being funneled across the border because the initiative removes mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, she said."We're already a state that traffickers use, and certainly, passing this will increase the amount of trafficking through our state," she said.Arizona is not the only state considering softening marijuana laws. Nevada has a measure on its ballot that would legalize possession of up to three ounces of marijuana, which could be sold in state-licensed smoke shops. Source: Associated Press Author: Michelle Rushlo, Associated Press WriterPublished: Thursday, October 31, 2002Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Related Articles:Doctors Free To Discuss Pot Use with Patientshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14604.shtmlPot Plan a Smoke Screen, Foes Say http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14466.shtml 
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