Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jun 2010
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2010 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Tammy Gray-Searles

MEDICAL MARIJUANA QUESTION WILL BE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

A push to bring the issue of legalizing the use of marijuana for medical 
purposes before Arizona voters was successful, as the Arizona Secretary of 
State recently verified that the petition contains enough signatures to be 
placed on the ballot.

On Nov. 2, voters will decide whether to allow patients with a doctor's 
recommendation to use marijuana for medical purposes. The Secretary of 
State's website notes that the act "protects terminally or seriously ill 
patients from state prosecution for using limited amounts of marijuana on 
their doctor's recommendation." The de scri ption of the bill also notes, 
"Qualifying patients who register with the Arizona Department of Health 
Services (ADHS) will obtain marijuana from nonprofit medical marijuana 
dispensaries regulated by ADHS. Private cultivation will be allowed by ADHS 
only when no dispensary is available."

The measure is sponsored by the Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project, a 
group which describes its purpose as protecting patients who use marijuana 
to relieve symptoms of serious illnesses. The group notes, "...seriously 
ill people who use marijuana on the advice of their doctor to treat 
illnesses such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis are subject to arrest 
and imprisonment simply for trying to stimulate their appetite or alleviate 
their pain."

According to the marijuana policy project, the group supports restrictions 
of the use of marijuana, and does not believe it should be used publicly, 
and that driving under the influence of marijuana, including for medical 
use, should be illegal.

Group members turned in more than 225,000 signatures supporting the act. 
According to the group's website, Arizona voters have already approved 
similar measures twice, but the wording did not allow the law to take effect.

Opponents of the measure argue that legalization of marijuana for medical 
purposes is not necessary, and that it will encourage illegal activity.

Drug Free America Executive Director Calvina Fay remarked, "Arizona 
residents should be concerned about replicating California's failures. 
Studies show that in cities like San Diego where this issue has been 
closely examined, only two percent of those smoking marijuana under the 
guise of medicine have serious conditions such as AIDS, glaucoma or cancer. 
A full 98 percent are 'treating' conditions such as back and neck pain, 
anxiety, muscle spasms, insomnia, headaches and other less significant 
conditions. But even more troubling is that 12 percent of the users are 
under 21."

The Office of National Drug Control Policy notes that marijuana is not an 
accepted medical treatment, and that there is no standard for controlling 
delivery of components in marijuana that alleviate symptoms.

While smoking marijuana may allow patients to temporarily feel better, the 
medical community makes an important distinction between inebriation and 
the controlled delivery of pure pharmaceutical medication. The raw (leaf) 
form of marijuana contains a complex mixture of compounds in uncertain 
concentrations, the majority of which have unknown pharmacological 
effects," a medical marijuana fact sheet produced by the office notes.

Opponents also point out that the act could result in expensive lawsuits to 
solve legal questions opened up by the legalization of marijuana for 
medical purposes. According to Fay, a number of such cases are currently 
underway in California.

According to a de scri ption of the act by the Secretary of State, it "is 
self-funding and establishes safeguards: registration cards; fingerprinting 
of caregivers and dispensary personnel to exclude drug and violent felons; 
strict security, recordkeeping and oversight requirements; inspection of 
dispensaries; restrictions on number and location of dispensaries; and 
providing penalties."
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