Pubdate: Thu, 22 Sep 2016
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2016 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Nick Meyers

DONOR TROUBLE

Big Pharma steps up to oppose recreational weed initiative

A couple weeks ago, we took a look at opioid use and prescription in
Arizona and how states have seen a decrease in opioid overdoses after
legalizing medical marijuana ("An MMJ Win," Sept. 1).

Well, now it seems one such manufacturer of a fentanyl-based drug is
concerned about recreational marijuana interfering with its future
business plans.

Insys Therapeutics plans to roll out a new line of THC medicine in the
near future and decided to donate $500,000 to the Arizonans for
Responsible Drug Policy to aid the opposition of Prop 205.

The Chandler-based Insys seems to be concerned that revenue from their
new manufactured THC spray called Syndros would a take quite a blow
from a cheaper recreational alternative.

As if vested financial interest isn't enough, Insys is also currently
under investigation in four states, including Arizona, for unethical
practices in soliciting their prescription opioid, Subsys, which have
allegedly resulted in patient deaths.

J.P. Holyoak, chairman of the campaign that has been the driving force
behind Prop 205, said that the ARDP is undermining its claim of
responsible drug policy by accepting the donation from a company under
investigation for irresponsible drug policy.

"They're knowingly accepting money from one of the worst actors in the
business," Holyoak said at a Phoenix news conference on Sept. 8. "This
is a company engaged in illegal marketing schemes that is
intentionally hooking people on opioids."

Much of the opposition campaign's donations can be traced back to Gov.
Doug Ducey, who has purportedly been making phone calls to request
donations to the ARDP, such as in the case of Microchip Technology CEO
Steve Sanghi, who made a $25,000 contribution in May.

Other major contributors include the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and
Industrya€"which also signed on as a plaintiff in the failed lawsuit
against Prop 205a€"with more than $120,000 in donations to date.

Randy Kendrick, wife of Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, has
donated $100,000.

Still, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has managed to
far outraise the opposition with more than $3 million in donations as
of Aug. 26, while ARDP had only managed a little more than $950,000.
However, proponents also had the added expense of paying for petition
signatures to put the initiative on the ballot, which cut into the
amount they have to spend on persuading voters.

The donation from Insys is by far the largest donation the opposition
campaign has received and will push their piggy bank to about half of
what CRMLA has raised.

While funding is not the best indication of what voters will
ultimately decide on a ballot measure, we mentioned last week that
Arizonans are pretty split on legalization with 50 percent for it, 40
percent against it and 10 percent undecided.

Additionally, there are some supporters of legalization that do not
support Prop 205, which could spell out bad news for the proposition's
prospects. Some are planning on holding out for a possible future
initiative including decriminalization and offering greater freedom
for new dispensaries.

But with the immense expense of sending an initiative to the ballot,
it isn't clear when Arizona will get another chance to follow in the
footsteps of Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

While the passage of Prop 205 could result in stringent regulations
that affect shops that sell paraphernalia and municipalities left with
the option of prosecuting users under federal law, failure to pass the
initiative will result in the continuation of Arizona's policy of
incarceration for low-level drug offenses.

As of yet, this isn't an easy decision for proponents of legalization,
which just might be Prop 205's downfall.
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MAP posted-by: Matt